Cricket Highlights, 01 Sep: Asia Cup 2023 (Match 02) – Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka started the Asia Cup with a win.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (Match 02) – Highlights

Bangladesh lost in their first Asia Cup match at Pallekele on Thursday (31 August) by 5 wickets. Chasing the target of 165 runs given by the Tigers, Sri Lanka reached the port of victory with 11 overs in hand.

With this rate, the struggle to reach the Super Four has become difficult for Bangladesh. Shakib’s team must win their last match against Afghanistan on Sunday (August 31) to reach the main stage. But it is not only about winning, but also depends on the net run rate.

Bangladesh cricket team lost the toss and went down to bat first. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s debut was not pleasant. He was dismissed for no runs against Sri Lanka in their first match in the Asia Cup. Mohammad Naim hit a four in the first over but Tamim departed on the second ball of the next over.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, the most informed batsman on the team, came to play at one down as Tamim got out. Maheesh Theekshana also put him in danger in the over of Tamim getting out. But the review showed that the ball on Shanto’s pad was pitched on the leg side. Shanto then got a life, his catch was dropped by Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka.  

Naim’s international debut was impressive, but he failed to live up to expectations against Sri Lanka. When Bangladesh was in danger with one dot after another, Naim departed trying to play a fancy shot. He returned with a catch while playing the shot without understanding the line length of Dhananjaya de Silva‘s ball. The opener scored only 16 runs off 23 balls.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan also returned to the dressing room shortly after his departure. Shakib scored 5 runs off 11 balls. Regular wickets fell at one end, but Shanto was fighting alone at the other end. He made a partnership of 59 runs with Towhid Hridoy for the fourth wicket. He picked up his fifty. Mushfiqur Rahim (13) departed after a quick interval of time when Hridoy returned to the dressing room after scoring 20 runs from 41 balls.  

After Mushfiq’s departure, Shanto was moving slowly with Mehidy Hasan Miraz. But Miraz had to return after the team’s 141 runs due to a misunderstanding between the two batters. Shanto was slowly moving towards the century against the procession of falling wickets. There was a chance of getting a century. But this batter had to return with regret.

Shanto returned scoring 89 runs off 122 balls with the help of 7 boundaries. Mahedi Hasan returned to the team after a long time, but he failed to perform. He was got out with an lbw by Dunith Wellalage. Bangladesh’s last 3 wickets fell within 8 balls. As a result, the Tigers were all out with 44 balls left.  

Taskin-Shoriful did not allow Sri Lanka to bat freely in pursuit of a small target. After conceding 13 runs in the first two overs, they went on the back foot, but Taskin Ahmed gave hope to the Tiger fans as he sent back Dimuth Karunaratne (1) in the first ball of the third over. Shoriful Islam increased the pressure on the Lankans. He made a fool of Pathum Nissanka who scored 14 runs and sent him to the dressing room.

Shakib’s first over was played very carefully by the Lankan batsmen. The Tiger captain did not give that chance in the second over. He increased the pressure on the Lankans by dismissing the struggling Kusal Mendis (5).  

Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka batted very responsibly for the fourth wicket. Their impeccable pair of 78 runs knocked Bangladesh out of the match. When Samarawickrama returned with 54 runs, the Lankans quickly lost another wicket.

But Asalanka did not let the pressure build-up. This batsman took the team to the port of victory by forming a partnership of 40 runs with captain Shanaka. Asalanka scored 62 runs off 92 balls, whereas Shanaka was unbeaten on 14 runs.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Scoreboard

Bangladesh – 164/10 (42.4)

Sri Lanka – 165/5 (39.0)

Result – Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets

Player of the match – Matheesha Pathirana

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Playing Xis