Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, Highlights, Asia Cup 2023 Super Four Match in Colombo: Sri Lanka win by 21 runs

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh preview: Bangladesh will hope to avenge their defeat suffered at the hands of Sri Lanka earlier in the ongoing Asia Cup when the two sides lock horns in the second Super Four clash on Saturday.

Bangladesh won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to bat with the action shifting to Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium for the first time in the tournament after having taken place in Multan, Lahore and Pallekele. While Sri Lanka opted for an unchanged XI, Bangladesh decided to bring in an extra bowler, replacing Afif Hossain with Nasum Ahmed.

Pacer Matheesha Pathirana’s 4/32 had helped defending champinos Sri Lanka restrict Bangladesh to 164 the last the these two sides met in the ongoing tournament, in Pallekele on 31 August. The three-time runners-up would have been bowled out for much lesser had it not been for Najmul Hossain Shanto’s defiant 89.

The Lankan Lions, in reply, got off to a jittery start losing their first two wickets with just 15 runs on the board, but were later brought back on track thanks to half-centuries from Sadeera Samarawickrama (54) and Charith Asalanka (62 not out).

The two teams however, would go on to post contrasting wins in their subsequent fixture. Bangladesh would hammer Afghanistan by 89 runs after centuries from Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s (112) and Shanto (104) helped them post a commanding 334/5 and Taskin Ahmed’s 4/44 helped bowl the Afghans out for 245.

Afghanistan however, came up with a much stronger response in their next outing, nearly chasing a stiff 292-run target down in a little over 37 overs that would have guaranteed them a place in the Super Fours at Sri Lanka’s expense.

Not only did Sri Lanka hold on to their nerve to bowl Afghanistan out for 289 after posting 291/8 on the board, but the Afghans themselves were unaware of the minute details with regards to their chances of qualification that ultimately proved to be their undoing.

Teams:

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Shamim Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana