CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka posted a competitive score of 257 for nine against Bangladesh in their first Super Four encounter of the 2023 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday,Sept. 9.
Sadeera Samarawickrama emerged as the top scorer with a remarkable 93 runs, forming a crucial partnership of 59 runs with Skipper Dasun Shanaka (24) for the sixth wicket.
Their effort enabled Sri Lanka to reach a defendable total on a sluggish pitch, where Bangladeshi bowlers delivered controlled spells of both pace and spin.
Samarawickrama showcased his batting prowess with two sixes and eight boundaries during his 72-ball innings, occupying the pivotal number four position.
Earlier in the innings, Kusal Mendis contributed a fighting half century, his 24th in One Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 50 runs off 73 balls, including one six and six boundaries.
Mendis, along with opener Pathum Nissanka (40), constructed a crucial 74-run partnership for the third wicket.
The match holds great significance for Sri Lanka, as a victory would break their record of 13 consecutive ODI wins, second only to Australia’s historic 24-win streak in 2003.
Hasan Mahmud was instrumental for Bangladesh, claiming three wickets for 57 runs in his nine-over spell, including the dismissal of Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne.
Chief scores
Sri Lanka: 257/9 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 40, Kusal Mendis 50, Sadeera Samarawickrama 93, Dasun Shanaka 24, Taskin Ahmed 3/62, Shoriful Islam 2/48, Hasan Mahmud 3/57) v Bangladesh.
