Sadeera Samarawickrama blistering 72-ball 93 and bowlers' brilliance powered Sri Lanka to comfortable 21-run victory against Bangladesh in the 8th match of the Asia Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
BANGLADESH INNINGS
Chasing a target of 258, Bangladesh were bundled out for 236 in the 49th over with 11 balls remaining.
It was only Towhrid Hridoy, who some serious significant with the bat for Bangladesh, scoring 97-ball 82.
Mushfiqur Rahim played cautiously for his 48-ball 29. Other batters failed to show any significant resistance with the bat for Bangladesh.
For Sri Lanka, Dasun Shanaka (3-28) and Matheesha Pathirana (3-58) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-69) bagged three wickets apiece.
Dunith Wellalage (1-26) was superb with the bowl, conceding only 26 runs in his 10 overs and picked up a wicket.
Kasun Rajitha (0-29), who picked up four wickets in his last outing against Afghanistan remained wicketless. Dhananjaya de Silva (0-18) also remained wicketless.
Sri Lanka emerges victorious, wrap it up by 21 runs! Takes two points.✌️#AsiaCup2023 #SLvBAN #LankanLions pic.twitter.com/oyMLPRvCiX
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 9, 2023
SRI LANKA INNINGS
Early on, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan invited Sri Lanka to bat first. Despite an early hiccups, Sri Lanka batters, Sadeera Samarawickrama (93 off 72) and Kusal Mendis (50 off 73) powered Sri Lanka to the total of 257-9, which was quite reasonable considering the situation in Colombo.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed (3-62) and Hasan Mahmud (3-57) bagged three wickets apiece.
Shoriful Islam (2-48), who was brilliant for Bangladesh throughout the tournament, once again filled the wickets' column by grabbing two wickets.
Shakib Al Hasan (0-44), Nasum Ahmed (0-31) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (0-14) remained wicketless.
Samarawickrama's scintillating 93-run knock has propelled Sri Lanka to a total of 257 runs! The pitch is proving to be two-paced, offering significant assistance to spinners.
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 9, 2023
Can the Tigers successfully chase down this total? #AsiaCup2023 #SLvBAN pic.twitter.com/OypgNVEL4O
Pakuistan and India will lock horns in the ninth match of the Asia Cup on September 10 (Sunday).
This will be the second time in this tournament that both the times will take on each other.
However, the first match was ended with out any result and both of the teams went on to share one points apiece.
India posted an equation of 267, courtesy the lethal bowl display from the Pakistan bowling powerhouse, spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
