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Defending champions Sri Lanka registered an easy five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Asia Cup 2023 opener at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on August 31. 20-year-old Matheesha Pathirana's four-fer followed by half-centuries from Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka guided the hosts home in Group B clash. This was Sri Lanka’s 11th ODI win on the trot, the longest for them in the format.
Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to bat first. On-debut Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan got out lbw for a two-ball duck to Maheesh Theekshana. In the eighth over, Mohammad Naim got out for a 23-ball 16. Matheesha Pathirana in his first over got the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan with a short ball. Najmul Hossain Shanto got to his half-century from 65 deliveries as he did the bulk of the scoring amidst wickets falling at the other end. In the same over, Dasun Shanaka broke the partnership with Towhid Hridoy's wicket.
Mushfiqur Rahim got off to a decent start but became Pathirana's second victim as he played an unsuccessful ramp shot. Then Mehidy Hasan Miraz got run out after a terrible mix-up. Mahedi Hasan got out for a single-digit score as well. In the 42nd over, Theekshana outfoxed Shanto with a brilliant delivery. He got bowled and missed his century. The southpaw scored 89 runs from 122 balls including seven fours. In the next over, Pathirana struck twice to bundle out Bangladesh for 164 with 44 balls left in the innings. Pathirana became the youngest Sri Lankan bowler to take a four-fer in ODIs.
Sri Lanka's run chase did not get off to an ideal start. Taskin Ahmed swung the ball into Dimuth Karunaratne and got him bowled. After a wicket-maiden, Shoriful Islam got rid of Pathum Nissanka. Samarawickrama hit a few boundaries straightaway. Kusal Mendis struggled to get off the mark. Skipper Shakib got the wicket of Mendis to push the hosts on the back foot.
The partnership between Asalanka and Samarawickrama brought calm in the middle. Samarawickrama got to his half-century from 58 deliveries. Hasan broke the partnership in the 30th over by getting Samarawickrama stumped. He scored 54 runs from 77 balls including six fours. In the next over, Dhananjaya got bowled by Shakib. But they turned out to be consolation wickets. Asalanka got to his half-century from 85 balls. In the 39th over, Asalanka finished the match with a boundary. He remained unbeaten for 62 runs from 92 balls.
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