Sri Lanka began their 2023 Asia Cup campaign with a resounding five-wicket victory over Bangladesh, their record-setting 11th consecutive victory in One-Day Internationals. Matheesha Pathirana (4-32) and Mahesh Theekshana (2-19), under the leadership of Matheesha Pathirana, restricted Bangladesh to a below-par 164 on a slow surface in Pallekele. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka each scored fifty to assist the hosts in reaching the target with 11 overs remaining.
Bangladesh appeared to have the upper hand after winning the toss, but Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka was unconcerned about bowling first on a sluggish and two-paced wicket. The prospect of rain made batting under the lights with a potential DLS-revised target an attractive option. His bowling adjustments reflected his comprehension of the conditions, most notably his use of Theekshana with the new ball.
The off-spinner struck with his second delivery, trapping the debutant LBW for a single. Mohammad Naim, the other opener, was dismissed by offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva in just two additional deliveries after his introduction in the eighth over. The batter stepped up to the plate but was defeated in the air and by the deviation, resulting in a straightforward capture at backward point.
Pathirana was not brought into the attack until the eleventh over, but he struck with his fourth delivery, handing his side the crucial wicket of Shakib Al Hasan, who miscued a cut shot to the wicketkeeper. At 36/3, Bangladesh’s innings required a quick revival.
There was a revival, but it was slow. Shanto held up one end with risk-free cricket, and Towhid Hridoy accompanied him in a 59-run partnership that was unhurried. But just as the partnership appeared to have navigated the problematic waters, Shanaka made another bowling change that yielded immediate results. This time, the captain came on and in his second over caused Hridoy to miss a flick attempt and drag a length ball on his pads. The Sri Lankan captain was vindicated when the screen displayed ‘three reds’ despite the fact that it appeared the batsman had crossed the three-metre line beyond which DRS is no longer applicable.
On a slow track, Pathirana climbed on Mushfiqur Rahim with a quick delivery and found him playing an upper cut direct to third man. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was disastrously run out, and Bangladesh’s innings soon collapsed after Shanto was dismissed by Theekshana’s outstanding carrom ball. Pathirana’s change of pace proved to be too much for Bangladesh’s tail to handle, as the final six wickets fell for only 37 runs.
Under the lights, batting became considerably simpler, but that did not prevent Bangladesh from causing some unease in the home dressing room. Taskin Ahmed bowled a flawless inswinger to dismiss Dimuth Karunaratne, whereas Shoriful Islam angled a delivery across Pathum Nissanka and captured him behind. When Kusal Mendis was bowled by Shakib Al Hasan for 5 off 21 deliveries, Sri Lanka were 43/3 and needed a partnership to get their run chase back on track.
Samarawickrama and Asalanka did so by navigating through the duress with a cautious accumulation of runs. With Bangladesh seeking to attack, there were numerous singles and the occasional boundary. Samarawickrama hit Shakib for four and compelled him to compensate by flicking another delivery to mid-wicket for another boundary. Asalanka’s utilization of the sweep stroke against the Bangladeshi spinners was particularly impressive.
The duo added 78 runs for the fourth wicket before Samarawickrama was stranded off a Mahedi Hasan delivery for 54 runs off 77 balls. By then, Sri Lanka was only 44 runs away from victory, and despite losing Dhananjaya de Silva cheaply, Asalanka anchored the chase and aided himself to a half-century to secure a crucial victory in Group B’s three-team format.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 164 in 42.4 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 89; Matheesha Pathirana 4-32, Maheesh Theekshana 2-19) lost to Sri Lanka 165/5 in 39 overs (Charith Asalanka 62*, Sadeera Samarawickrama 54; Shakib Al Hasan 2-29) by five wickets.
