Asia Cup 2023: Top Stories in Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Match 2

The stage was set on 31 August 2023 for the second game of the ongoing Asia Cup in Pallekele. Sri Lanka locked horns with Bangladesh and managed to win the game by five wickets. Matheesha Pathirana stole the show with the ball while Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka showed their characters during a tricky chase on a slowish track where the ball was turning a bit also. Pathirana bagged the Player of the Match award.

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Here are 3 Top Stories From Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Match 2, Asia Cup 2023

Bangladesh’s Batting Disaster:

After winning the toss, Shakib Al Hasan opted to bat first. But, the decision did not go in favour of his team as Bangladesh got bundled out for just 164 runs in 42.4 overs. Only Najmul Hossain Shanto looked comfortable in the middle as he scored 89 runs off 122 balls. Apart from him, only two other batters managed double-digit scores. Batters looked clueless against Sri Lanka’s spinners and youngstar Matheesha Pathirana. Senior batters like Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim also failed to score big. There was only one 50-run plus partnership that came for the fourth wicket between Shanto and Towrid Hridoy (59-run partnership off 80 balls).         

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Matheesha Pathirana’s 4-Fer:

This young pacer failed to put up impressive performances in his first five ODIs. But, Matheesha Pathirana came to this tournament after having a great LPL with 12 wickets in eight games. So, all eyes were on him when he came up to bowl against the Bangla Tigers. However, Pathirana did not disappoint as he picked up four wickets for 32 runs in 7.4 overs, at an economy of 4.17. Among those scalps, he also took the wickets of two Bangaldesh’s senior batters; Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Sadeera Samarawickrama & Charith Asalanka's Decisive Partnership:

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This 78-run partnership between Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka turned out to be the decisive one as Sri Lanka chased down the 165-run target with ease in 39 overs with five wickets in hand. The Lankans were in all sorts of trouble after losing three wickets for 43 runs. After that, this fourth-wicket partnership helped Sri Lanka to steady the chase and ultimately, they managed to win the game comfortably. Samarawickrama scored 54 runs off 77 balls while Asalanka remained not out on 62* runs off 32 balls.

Also Check: 5 Lowest Team Totals in Asia Cup History