Sri Lanka began the 2023 Asia Cup tournament with a comprehensive win over Bangladesh in the first match of Group B to be played at Palleke International Stadium, Kandy on 31st August 2023. It was a superb all-round performance by the hosts with both bat and ball.
Chasing down 165 runs to win, Sri Lanka got off to a shaky start as Dimuth Karaunate and Pathum Nissanka went within the first 10 overs. Kusal Mendis struggled against disciplined Bangladesh bowling before the experienced Shakib AL Hasan dismissed him to leave Sri Lanka in some trouble.
Sadeera Samawickrama and Charith Asalanaka steadied the ship for Sri Lanka with singles and hitting occasional boundaries. Both did not allow Bangladesh bowlers to settle. Sadeera and Asalanaka looked impressive against spinners and pacers making life tough for Shakib and Co. Samawickrama completed fifty off 59 balls. He was eventually stumped by a lovely delivery by Mahedi Hasan. Samawickrama and Asalanaka added 78 runs for the 4th wicket. Shakib AL Hasan stunned Dhanajaya de Silva to bring back Bangladesh into the game.
Asalanaka looked solid keeping the scoreboard ticking along with Dasun Shanaka. Asalanaka completed fifty off 85 deliveries. He and Dasun Shanaka put on unbeaten 37 runs for the 5th wicket. Sri Lanka won the match comfortably by 5 wickets with 11 overs to spare. For his figures of 4 for 32, Matheesh Pathirana was named the player of the match. Bangladesh captain Shakib AL Hasan won the toss and decided to bat first. The debutant Tanzid Hasan fell without opening his account to Theekshana. Dhanajaya de Silva got rid of Mohammad Naim to leave Bangladesh in trouble.
Pathirana got the big wicket of Bangladesh captain Shakib AL Hasan with a lovely one-handed catch by Kusal Mendis. Towhid Hridoy and Shanto looked in decent touch taking singles and hitting occasional boundaries. Shanaka did the damage by getting rid of Hridoy via review. The umpire gave not out but on review, it was overturned to out. Hridoy and Shanto added 59 runs for the 4th wicket. Rahim and Shanto tried steadying the innings before Pathirana got rid of Rahim caught by Karaunate at third man. Shanto and Rahim added 32 runs for the 5th wicket.
It was a superb bowling effort as they kept picking wickets at regular intervals. Sri Lanka skittled Bangladesh for 164 in 42.4 overs. Pathirana was the pick of bowlers with 4 for 32, Maheesh Theekshana 2 for 18, Dhanajaya de Silva, Dunith Wellage, and Shanaka grabbed 1 wicket each.
Here is how Twitterati reacted:
Ninth ODI fifty 62 (92) for Charith Asalanka.#SLvsBAN#AsiaCupOnHotstar#AsiaCup23 pic.twitter.com/o1RxdWg9kY
— The Cricket Records Show (@RecordsCricket1) August 31, 2023
Now #Bangladesh team would have to beat #Afg at any cost to avoid getting eliminated from the group stage for second time in a row.
#AsiaCup #BANvSL #SLvsBAN #AsiaCup23
— movieman (@movieman777) August 31, 2023
#SLvsBAN #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/eEI3BWzI17
— josiah🪐 (@josiah_i1) August 31, 2023
Easy win for Sri Lanka, even though they were missing their four main players due to injuries. They will be a dangerous side in the coming WC, so don't take them lightly..#SLvsBAN #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/cNrrdZSgCa
— Hassan (@HassanAbbasian) August 31, 2023
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 66 runs, brilliant batting from Samarawickrama 54 runs (77) & Asalanka 62 runs (92)🇱🇰🇧🇩🏏#Asiacup2023 #SLvsBAN pic.twitter.com/iRFyy5ivzh
— chasingthetarget (@chasingtarget) August 31, 2023
🏏 What a display by Asalanka in the match today! His sensible batting truly impressed, good to see Sri Lanka's cricket improving their game in recent years. Congrats to the team. Can’t wait for INDIA VS PAK. #AsiaCup #SLvsBAN #INDvsPAK
— tushar keshan (@tusharkeshan) August 31, 2023
#SLvsBAN #AsiaCup
Deserved win for @OfficialSLC
Did enough with the ball to not be faced with any real pressure when chasing a very below par 164 by @BCBtigers who elected to bat.
240-250 would have made for a more interesting contest
Lose to @ACBofficials and the Tigers gone— Farong (@thundhaa) August 31, 2023
Ninth ODI fifty 62 (92) for Charith Asalanka.#SLvsBAN#AsiaCupOnHotstar#AsiaCup23
: Disney + Hotstar pic.twitter.com/yEos4A0UZ5— King Kohli 👑 (@ManuRajawat10) August 31, 2023
Sri Lanka registered their 11th consecutive win in ODIs.
– The longest ever winning streak by them! pic.twitter.com/CSreemUabi
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 31, 2023
Easy to see why Sri Lanka cricket, CSK and MS Dhoni are valuing Matheesha Pathirana so highly. He is still learning his craft. But he is learning quickly and will be a real handful in years to come.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) August 31, 2023
🏏 Sri Lanka WINS! 🇱🇰
Sri Lanka wins Asia Cup match against Bangladesh by 5 wickets.
🇧🇩: 164
🇱🇰: 165/5▫️Charith Asalanka : 62*
▫️Sadeera Samarawickrama : 54
▫️ Matheesha Pathirana : 4 wickets
This is Sri Lanka’s 11th consecutive ODI WIN and makes it their longest winning… pic.twitter.com/BBNaDHwpIK
— Dasuni Athauda (@AthaudaDasuni) August 31, 2023
Sri Lanka are the first team in men’s ODI history to dismiss the opponents in 11 consecutive matches. Australia and South Africa had done it in 10 games on the trot. #AsiaCup2023
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 31, 2023
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