DHAKA, Aug 31, 2023 (BSS)  —  Bangladesh made a disappointing start to its Asia Cup campaign by suffering a five-wicket defeat to co-host Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy today. 

Opting to bat first, the Tigers put up a mediocre 164 before being all out in 42.4 overs with Najmul Hossain Shanto battling lonely to score 89.
Sri Lanka hunted down the total with relatively ease, reaching 165-5 with 66 balls to spare.

Charith Asalanka hit 62 not out and Sadeera Samarawickrama made 54 to help Sri Lanka register their 11 h consecutive victory after the early hiccup which saw them reduced to 43-3 in 10th over.

Bangladesh’s new ball bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam removed openers Dimuth Karunaratne (1) and Pathum Nissanka (14) inside four overs to give the side a ray of hope.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan, who ended with 2-29, bolstered the side’s chance further when he removed Kusal Mendis for 5.

But Samarawickrama and Asalanka dented Bangladesh’s hopes with 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Offspinner Mahedi Hasan who returned to the fold after two and half years broke through with the wicket of Samarawickrama after he struck six fours in his 77-ball-knock.

But by then Sri Lanka almost took the stranglehold. Shakib struck again with the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva, giving the diehard fans some faint hopes.

However Asalanka and captain Dasun Shanaka (14 not out) helped the side get over the line with the former fittingly ensured the victory, pulling Taskin for a boundary through square leg.

Asalanka’s 92-ball-knock studded with five fours and one six.

Shoddy batting performance was catalyst behind Bangladesh’s meek surrender. 

After Shanto’s 89, the next best for Bangladesh was Towhid Hridoy’s 20 while two other batters – opener Naim Sheikh (16) and Mushfiqur Rahim (13) could reach double digit figure.

Playing only his fifth game, Sri Lanka’s young fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana wrecked havoc on Bangladesh batting line up, claiming his career-best 4-32.

Offspinner Maheesh Theekshana snapped up 2-19 while Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wallalage and captain Dasun Shanaka picked up one wicket apiece.

Theekshana drew the blood first, handing opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim a duck on his debut ODI after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan opted to bat first.

Another opener Naim Sheikh hit three boundaries before Dhananjaya de Silva got rid of him. But the big blow came when Pathirana got into act with the wicket of Shakib who edged behind for 5. 

With Bangladesh leaving at precarious 36-3 in 11th over, things looked ominous but Shanto and Hridoy appeared steady to bail the side out of the danger. They combined for a 59-run for the fourth wicket, which was key in helping the side get past 150-run mark.

Shanto looked more compact and soon brought up his fourth half-century off 66 balls as he cut Shanaka fiercely through backward point for a boundary.

But Shanka in that over took the revenge, claiming the wicket of Hridoy whose 41 ball-20 was without any boundary. 

Hridoy’s dismissal sparked a collapse as Bangladesh lost the rest of the six wickets for 69 runs with Pathirana kicking up the things.
The young prodigy produced  a beauty to further disrupt Bangladesh as he had Mushfiqur Rahim caught by Dimuth Karunaratne.

Shanto still keeping the side in the race as the wickets were tumbling at the other end. However his resistance came to an end when Theekshana clean bowled him, spinning one past him viciously. 

That also denied his second ODI century by 11 runs.  Shanto’s 122 ball-89 runs knock was studded by seven fours.

After his dismissal, Bangladesh could add just two runs before being all out.