Asia Cup | Twitter reacts as disciplined Sri Lanka hold nerves in 5-wicket win over Bangladesh

08/31/2023

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Sri Lanka were made to work hard by Bangladesh at Pallekele on Thursday but their all-round quality eventually shone through in a low-scoring game. Pathirana's four-wicket haul helped bowl out the visitors for 164 before fifties by Samarawickrama and Asalanka saw the team through in 39 overs.

Bangladesh's decision to bat first in overcast conditions immediately backfired as Maheesh Theekshana sent debutant Tanzid Hasan packing in just the second over of the game. Dhananjaya de Silva added to the visitor's misery by scalping the other opener Mohammad Naim to leave the Tigers reeling at 34/2 by the end of the powerplay. This set the stage for left-arm quick Matheesha Pathirana to wreak havoc with his unorthodox action as he earned the big wicket of skipper Shakib Al Hasan in his first over to kick off a tight spell. Towhid Hridoy and Najmul Shanto tried to steady a ship with a 59-run partnership before the latter was trapped LBW by Dasun Shanaka which saw Bangladesh struggling to stay afloat 95/4. Thereon, Shanto kept plugging away even as wickets tumbled at the other end, reaching his half-century off 66 balls. No other batter failed to pass the 20-run mark as the 25-year-old fell 11 runs short of a century in a 122-ball stay at the crease. Nevertheless, his effort got Bangladesh to a defendable 164 despite Pathirana ending with excellent figures of 7.4-0-32-4.

In response, the Tigers proved there was still all to play for with an exhibition of swing bowling with the new Kookaburra. The Lions found themselves at 44/3 after 10 overs were played and looked to be in a spot of bother but their sinking ship was saved by a brilliant partnership between Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka. The duo kept rotating the scorecard and found the occasional boundary at opportune moments to release the immense pressure being put on by a disciplined bowling effort. By the time the former departed for a 77-ball 54 to bring an end to the 78-run partnership, the hosts just required 45 runs for victory. Bangladesh put up a brief fightback with another quick wicket but it proved to be too little too late as Asalanka took the side across the line with his unbeaten 62 from 91 deliveries.

Great win to start the journey!

That's it... perfect start by Lanka 😯

What a performance 😍💓#AsiaCup23 #SLvsBAN pic.twitter.com/WGmHkJ8Qvv
— ✨F A I Z A N✨ (@FaizanKhan_152) August 31, 2023

How happy for you? :D

Another comment published in espncricinfo! 😌😎#SLvsBAN pic.twitter.com/PGMmjmTAAz
— Sahil (@virohit4518) August 31, 2023

They din't!

Will Sri Lanka choke ???

Instead of playing a lot of dot balls, Sri Lanka should attack which will put Bangladesh on the back foot.#SLvBAN | #AsiaCup2023 | #AsiaCup | #SLvsBAN | #AsiaCup23 | #SriLanka | #CricketTwitter
— GAFOOR GHISELA (@ParitoshK_2016) August 31, 2023

Does he know Hindi?

Mahedi bc🤬🤬🤬 chal bagh#SLvsBAN
— SJM🇧🇩 𝕏 (@SJM_007) August 31, 2023

How rude are you bruh!! Spread love not hate!

Shakib is worst captain ever for bangladesh #SLvsBAN
— AKHIL_99 (@AK99cricket) August 31, 2023

Quite a bad and low total!😢

Atleast 220+ is ENOUGH TARGET 🎯 TO DEFEND on this PITCH but BANGLADESH MADE JUST 164/10

NOT A GOOD GAME×#AsiaCup23 #AsiaCupOnHotstar #BANvSL #SLvsBAN pic.twitter.com/YJqCYpMQRV
— Cricket Insider (@theDcricket) August 31, 2023

Fans were waiting!

No Nagin Dance Partyy 😢💔💔.#SLvsBAN #AsiaCup23 pic.twitter.com/xQiMWbmOaD
— Muhammad Arslan Akbar 🇵🇰 (@itsarsalawan) August 31, 2023

Good day at office to Sri Lanka!

Sri Lanka rules today, first with the ball and now with the bat too.#AsiaCup #SLvsBAN
— Jaweria Basharat (@JaweriaBasharat) August 31, 2023

Good start from Lanka here!

Sri Lanka won by 5 wkts

BAN v SL

2nd Match

Group B

SL 165-5 (39)

BAN 164 (42.4)#SLvsBAN #AsiaCup23
— Bashir Ahmed (@BalochBashir786) August 31, 2023

Party abhi toh shuru hua hi!