CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka extended their winning streak to 13 consecutive victories with a hard-fought 21-run triumph over Bangladesh in their 2023 Asia Cup Super Four 50-overs match played under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
Skipper Dasun Shanaka, celebrated his 32nd birthday in style and delivered a stellar performance with both bat and ball, guiding his team to their 13th successive ODI win, a feat second only to Australia’s historic 24-
match streak achieved in 2003.
This was after Sadeera Samarawickrama had showcased exceptional wristwork and impeccable timing to notch his highest ODI score of 93, earning him the Player of the Match award. During his 72-ball innings, he smashed two sixes and eight boundaries, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s competitive total of 257 for nine in 50 overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers displayed pinpoint accuracy in both pace and spin, with Hasan Mahmud leading the charge with figures of three for 57.
His crucial early wickets slowed down the Sri Lankan batting line-up on a sluggish R. Premadasa pitch.
In pursuit of a reachable target, Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy played a lone hand with his gritty 82 off 97 balls, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory for his team.
Sri Lankan bowlers, spearheaded by Shanaka’s exceptional performance of three for 28, kept the pressure on by taking key top-order wickets at regular intervals.
Maheesh Theekshana (3/69) played an attacking role by claiming middle-order wickets and combining effectively with Matheesha Pathirana (3/58) to wrap-up the Tigers’ innings in style.
Pathirana shattered the stumps of Shoriful Islam with a toe-crushing yorker. Left-arm bowler Dunith Wellalage emerged as the most economical bowler, conceding only 26 runs in his 10-over spell, and making a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Liton Das at a pivotal juncture of the match.
Chief scores:
Sri Lanka: 257/9 in 50 overs (Sadeera Samarawickrama 93, Kusal Mendis 50, Pathum Nissanka 40, Dasun Shanaka 24, Hasan Mahmud 3/57, Taskin Ahmed 3/62, Shoriful Islam 2/48)
Bangladesh: 236 in 48.1 overs (Towhid Hridoy 82, Mushfiqur Rahim 29, Mehidy Hasan 28,
Mohammad Naim 21, Dasun Shanaka 3/28, Matheesha Pathirana 3/58, Maheesh Theekshana 3/69).
