In the second game of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, Matheesha Pathirana’s four-for-four helped Sri Lanka dismiss Bangladesh for a pitiful 164 despite Najmul Hossain Shanto’s heroic 89-run effort.
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh: Despite Shanto’s valiant half-century, Bangladesh’s batting squad failed to compile a respectable score despite choosing to bat first.
The visitors’ innings got off to a poor start as Mohammad Naim (16), Tanzid Hassan (0), and captain Shakib Al Hasan (5) all fell cheaply for only 36 runs after just 11 overs of play.
Towhid Hridoy joined Shanto at the crease after the downturn, and the two steadied the innings with a careful 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Before Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka trapped Hridoy lbw on 20, the pair of Shanto and Hridoy appeared to have found some peace. This crucial breakthrough helped his team.
In the opening match of Bangladesh’s Asia Cup 2023 campaign, Shanto and the seasoned Mushfiqur Rahim formed a 32-run stand, which was another key combination for Bangladesh.
The pair, however, couldn’t extend their stand, as Pathirana bowled out Rahim in the 33rd over, limiting him to a cautious 13 runs from 22 deliveries.
After Rahim was dismissed, Shanto started to lose partners at the opposite end at a startling rate before Maheesh Theekshana castled him in the 42nd over, forcing him to return to the pavilion as well.
He fought alone for Bangladesh in their opening game in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, scoring an 89 from 122 balls that included seven boundaries.
Only Naim, Hridoy, and Rahim were able to reach double digits in addition to him.
With 4/32 in seven over, Matheesha Pathirana led Sri Lanka’s bowling assault. Theekshana came in second with two wickets, followed by Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, and Shanaka, who each claimed one.