Cricket News Asia Cup 2023

'Bangladesh ka Nagin Dance krne ka sapna tut gya' - Fans react as Sri Lanka outclass Bangladesh in their tournament opener in Asia Cup 2023

The defending champions Sri Lanka have continued their winning streak in the ODIs as they have registered the 11th consecutive ODI win.

author-image
Rohit Kumar
New Update
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh

The co-hosts of the Asia Cup 2023, Sri Lanka started their campaign in the tournament with a clinical win against Bangladesh in the second match of the tournament. Both teams played this match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the flip of the coin and asked his batters to take charge first.

Batting first, the Bangladesh batters failed to impress with their performances against the Sri Lankan bowlers. They got bundled up only on the score of 164 runs in 42.4 overs. It was only the number three batter Najmul Hossain Shanto who played a tough and struggling knock of 89 runs off 122 balls, with 7 boundaries to help his side somehow reach that total.

Other than him, it was only Towhid Hridoy who contributed with 20 runs off 41 balls without any boundary. Speaking of Sri Lanka’s bowling in the match, the young pacer Matheesha Pathirana impressed everyone as he scalped 4 wickets after conceding only 32 runs in 7.4 overs. He was accompanied by Maheesh Theekshana who claimed 2 wickets, alongside one wicket each by Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, and Dasun Shanaka.

Asalanka and Samarawickrama powered Sri Lanka's run-chase to start with a win in the Asia Cup 2023

Chasing the target, Sri Lanka had a shaky start as they lost their top 3 including both openers only on the score of 43 runs in 9.2 overs. But it was the pair of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka that guided the hosts to a win. The duo stitched a vital partnership of 78 runs for the fourth wicket before Samarawickrama got out on the individual score of 54 runs and the team’s total of 121 runs. Asalanka went unbeaten with the knock of 62 runs, including five fours and a six.

Eventually, Sri Lanka won the match by 5 wickets, scoring 165 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 39 overs. Star pacer Matheesha Pathirana bagged the ‘Player of the Match award as he helped Sri Lanka to dominate with the ball in the first innings.

Here’s how fans reacted to the winning start of Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023:

Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Bangladesh Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh