Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Match Highlights & Results

That is it then from this game and the 2023 Asia Cup has got off to a fast start with two teams already registering victories. Next up is the big clash, arguably the greatest rivalry in world cricket at the moment as arch-rivals India and Pakistan take on each other at the very same venue in Pallekele on Saturday, the 2nd of September. That blockbuster clash will begin at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT) but our build-up for the game will begin a lot sooner. Do join us then for all the action. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Matheesha Pathirana is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant four-fer. He mentions that it is his first ever player of the match for his country and he feels really good to receive it. He also adds that a little T20 approach is needed in this format and on this wicket it helped as it is on a slower side. He said that his action has always been a plus point for him and he is aware that he is rare and will continue to deliver the same way for his nation and himself.

Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka says that the target was less and credits the bowlers for restricting their opposition. He adds that Maheesh Theekshana was brought in early to slow down the pace and trouble the batters. He mentions that Sadeera Samarawickrama batted brilliantly and Charith Asalanka has been performing consistently for Sri Lanka.

The Presentation ceremony...

The Bangladesh skipper, Shakib Al Hasan says that there were not enough runs on the board, if the score was around 230-240, the match would have been a very different one. He added that as a batting unit, they did not bat well and they will look to regroup again as they have a couple of days before the next game. The captaincy was alright, he said that they could have picked up more wickets and that would have taken the match a little deeper but in the end gives the credit to the Sri Lankan batters for finishing the chase. In the end, he finishes off by saying that he has complete trust in his players and it's still an early stage in the tournament for them and they will come back harder in the next game.

The star of Sri Lanka's chase, Sadeera Samarawickrama is up for a chat. He says that the pitch was not easy and his plan was to bat deep and build a partnership. He adds that conditions were not ideal for batting because there was spin and the pitch was a bit slow. He mentions that the pull shot and drive are his strengths and he works on that.

Earlier in the game, Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to bat first under an overcast sky and this didn't turn out to be the best of decisions as Bangladesh lost three wickets in just over 10 overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto however stayed resolute and put on a couple of decent stands with Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim but soon he ran out of partners. As a unit, Sri Lanka were solid with the ball and in the field with Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana being the standouts. The latter exploited the change of pace to perfection and ended with four wickets. Coming to the chase, it wasn't all too simple for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh bowled well but in the end, the target wasn't a steep one.

Bangladesh hung in there with the ball for a long time but they knew, one good partnership would take the game away from them and that's what happened. Having started quickly with the ball, they failed to create pressure after the first Powerplay and let Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka just settle into a comfortable rhythm. To be fair, they didn't have runs on the board and skipper Shakib Al Hasan bowled really well too but it was simply a bridge too far for them.

The defending champions are up and running! A very well-contested game of cricket but it is Sri Lanka who have come out on top here against Bangladesh and started their Asia Cup campaign with a fairly straightforward win. Having set up the game brilliantly with the ball, all Sri Lanka needed was a decent start with the bat but were two down for just 15 runs. Sadeera Samarawickrama then counter-attacked a bit as his partner Kusal Mendis struggled at the other end before getting out. It was then a gritty stand between Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka worth 78 runs that put Lanka on top of the proceedings. They did have a slight breakdown as they lost a couple of quick wickets but Asalanka stayed until the end and saw his side over the line.

Taskin Ahmed to Charith Asalanka, Four!FOUR! Shorter and on the thigh pads. Charith Asalanka shuffles across and pulls it through the gap at square leg. The fielder in the deep can't reach it and the ball runs away to the fence for four more runs. Sri Lanka have won with 5 wickets to spare and have gained an advantage over the rest of the teams in their group.

Taskin Ahmed to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Fuller, and on the pads. Dasun Shanaka flicks it away to square leg for one.

Taskin Ahmed to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Short and outside off. Dasun Shanaka leaves it alone.

Taskin Ahmed to Dasun Shanaka, No run.On length and onto the pads. Dasun Shanaka misses the shot as the ball hits the pads. There is an appeal but it is turned down by the umpire. Bangladesh has reviewed it. The UltraEdge shows that there is no spike. The ball tracking shows wickets hitting as umpire's call and Dasun Shanaka has survived.

Taskin Ahmed to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Short again on the helmet. Charith Asalanka pulls it to deep square leg for another single.

Taskin Ahmed to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Short and on off. Dasun Shanaka pushes it to mid-wicket for a single.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.On length and on off. Charith Asalanka punches it to cover where the fielder collects it.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Full and on off. Charith Asalanka defends it.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, Six!SIX! UP UP AND AWAY! Mahedi Hasan bowls this short and on top of leg. Charith Asalanka rocks back and pulls it over mid-wicket. The ball sails over everyone and into the stands for a maximum. What a shot from Charith Asalanka.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Floated up on middle. Charith Asalanka defends it.

Mahedi Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Fullish and on leg. Dasun Shanaka flicks it away to backward square leg for one.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Full and on the pads. Charith Asalanka nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Mehidy Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Full and on the toes. Dasun Shanaka flicks it to the fielder at mid-wicket.

Mehidy Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, Four!FOUR! Mehidy Hasan bowls this a bit short and outside off. Dasun Shanaka dances down and muscles this over mid on all the way for a boundary. He is looking to accelerate the innings now.

Mehidy Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.That's a fifty for Charith Asalanka. Mehidy Hasan bowls this full and on middle and leg. Charith Asalanka drives it to long off for a single to reach this milestone. He has played a steady innings.

Mehidy Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Pitched up on middle and leg. Charith Asalanka defends off the front foot.

Mehidy Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Floated up outside off. Charith Asalanka slices it to point.

Mehidy Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Full and on the off pole. Charith Asalanka blocks it on the off side.

Mahedi Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.A bit short and outside off. Dasun Shanaka punches it back to the bowler.

Mahedi Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Uppish again on middle. Dasun Shanaka defends it.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Floated up on the pads. Charith Asalanka edges it to mid-wicket for a single.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Fullish just outside off. Charith Asalanka slices it to the fielder at point.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Lobbed up on the pads. Charith Asalanka has defended it.

Mahedi Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Full and on off. Dasun Shanaka has guided it to point for a quick single.

Mehidy Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Flighted up on middle and leg. Dasun Shanaka sweeps it to backward square leg for a single to end the over.

Mehidy Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Floated up on off. Dasun Shanaka has defended it.

Mehidy Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, 2 runs.Full again this time on off. Dasun Shanaka reverse sweeps it to deep point for a couple of runs. The fielder there saved a boundary.

Mehidy Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Fullish on middle. Charith Asalanka has driven it to mid off for one.

Mehidy Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Full and on off again. Dasun Shanaka has driven it to mid-wicket for a single.

Mehidy Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Full and on off. Dasun Shanaka has nudged it to mid-wicket.

Mahedi Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Floated up on the pads. Dasun Shanaka pushes it to cover for a single.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Pitched up on off. Charith Asalanka drives it to long off for a single.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 2 runs.Fullish and outside off. Charith Asalanka has driven it to deep cover for a couple of runs.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Shorter and on top of off. Charith Asalanka has defended it off the back foot.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Flat and full on the off pole. Charith Asalanka blocks it solidly.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Full and outside off. Charith Asalanka defends off the front foot.

Shakib Al Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Very full straight on middle. Dasun Shanaka digs it out to point for a dot to end the over.

Shakib Al Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Fullish and on middle. Dasun Shanaka blocks it off the back foot.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Flat and quick on the pads. Charith Asalanka drives it to long on for another single.

Shakib Al Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, 1 run.Flighted up on middle. Dasun Shanaka drives it to long off for a single.

Shakib Al Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Full again on off. Dasun Shanaka sends it back to the bowler.

Shakib Al Hasan to Dasun Shanaka, No run.Fullish and on the pads. Dasun Shanaka has driven it to mid on.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Flat and quick on middle. Charith Asalanka drives it to overs.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Uppish again outside off. Charith Asalanka pushes it to point.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, Four!FOUR! What a shot! Mahedi Hasan bowls this fullish and on the off pole. Charith Asalanka lofts it over mid off and with great timing. The ball crosses the fence after bouncing once and Sri Lanka get four more runs.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Pitched up and on off. Charith Asalanka has blocked it out.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Floated up outside off. Charith Asalanka has blocked it solidly.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Full and outside off. Charith Asalanka pushes it to point.

Drinks break! Well, then! Could there be a real twist in the tale here? This is about the same time when Bangladesh started losing wickets in a heap during their innings and Sri Lanka have now lost two quick wickets as well. Charith Asalanka is well set on the crease though and it will be interesting to see how the Lankans handle this pressure created by the Bangladeshi spinners. With that said, Sri Lankan skipper, Dasun Shanaka comes out to bat.

Shakib Al Hasan to Dhananjaya de Silva, OUT! b Shakib Al Hasan.OUT! TIMBER! Shakib Al Hasan gets his man! He bowls this full an straight on middle. Dhananjaya de Silva dances down the ground and tries to muscle it down the ground. He has missed the ball completely and is already way down the crease. The ball goes crashing into the stumps and Dhananjaya de Silva has to depart. That was poor batting from him and Sri Lanka is in trouble now.

Shakib Al Hasan to Dhananjaya de Silva, No run.Flatter and full on leg. Dhananjaya de Silva comes forward and pads it to the on side.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Floated up on middle. Charith Asalanka drives it to long on for a single.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 2 runs.Lobbed up and outside off. Charith Asalanka lofts it to deep square leg for a couple of runs. The fielder there makes a good stop.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Fullish again on the off pole. Charith Asalanka defends it.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 2 runs.Full and outside off. Charith Asalanka sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Mahedi Hasan to Dhananjaya de Silva, No run.Flighted delivery, Dhananjaya de Silva blocks it out with soft hands.

Mahedi Hasan to Dhananjaya de Silva, No run.Fuller and on off, pushed out toward cover.

Mahedi Hasan to Dhananjaya de Silva, 2 runs.Another flighted one around off, Dhananjaya de Silva pushes at it and gets it off the outer half past point for a couple of runs.

Mahedi Hasan to Dhananjaya de Silva, No run.Floated up around off, kept out by Dhananjaya de Silva.

Mahedi Hasan to Dhananjaya de Silva, No run.Floated up on a fuller length, this is blocked off toward mid-wicket.

Dhananjaya de Silva is the new batter in.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, OUT! st Mushfiqur Rahim b Mahedi Hasan.OUT! STUMPED! Mushfiqur Rahim gets it done eventually. Mahedi Hasan flights this one up nicely, full and around off. Sadeera Samarawickrama tries to use his feet but gets a bit too ahead and the ball curves away as well. Samarawickrama ends up just walking past the ball but the ball gets stuck in the gloves of Rahim. Samarawickrama is so far out that Rahim can still dislodge the bails after fumbling. Top delivery though from Mahedi Hasan.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Maiden! Flatter and quicker, angled onto middle and leg, Charith Asalanka works it to mid-wicket.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Gives it a lot more air and floats it up around off, turning it in. Charith Asalanka blocks it off the front foot.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Flatter delivery close to the off stump, Charith Asalanka goes back to keep it out.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Much fuller and around off, defended out by Asalanka.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Gives it a lot more air and bowls it outside off on a nagging length. Charith Asalanka gets across the off stump but then just leaves it alone, getting hit on the pads.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Shorter in length and turning in from around off, Charith Asalanka shuffles a bit and pushes it toward mid on.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, 2 runs.Gets it away this time around. Another tossed-up delivery on off stump, Sadeera Samarawickrama gets inside the line and plays the paddle sweep toward fine leg. The batters do well to come back for the second run.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Floats this one up full and around off, Sadeera Samarawickrama tries to paddle it fine but miscues it completely to mid-wicket.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Quicker and a bit more round arm, angling in quickly from outside off. Charith Asalanka backs away and cuts it behind point for another single.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Nagging length, looped up a bit as well, Charith Asalanka pushes at it off the front foot.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, 1 run.Tossed up around middle, knocked down to long on by Sadeera Samarawickrama for a single.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Flighted delivery, full and on off, this is pushed back to the bowler.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, 1 run.Another one that just skids on and comes in with the angle, Sadeera Samarawickrama nudges it past square leg for a single.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Quicker one around off and skidding on, chopped away toward point.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Too far down the track! Tossed up on the stumps, Sadeera Samarawickrama dances down the track but ends up yorking himself and gets hit on the boot. Half an appeal for LBW but the umpire isn't interested.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Drops it short this time, Charith Asalanka rocks back and pulls it through wide mid on for a single.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Flighted on the stumps, defended out by Charith Asalanka.

Shakib Al Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.The ball is gripping a bit for sure! Bowls it on a length around off and the ball hols up a touch, Charith Asalanka mistimes the block to the left of Shakib.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.On the shorter side and around off, this is pushed off the back foot to silly mid on.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Floated up on a nagging length around off, Sadeera Samarawickrama pushes it to mid off.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Flighted delivery on the pads, nudged away to square leg.

Mahedi Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Quicker and fuller on the stumps, Sadeera Samarawickrama jams it right back to the bowler.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, 1 run.Fuller and on off, Charith Asalanka leans forward and pushes it down to long off for an easy single.

Mahedi Hasan to Charith Asalanka, No run.Comes from around the wicket and bowls this one on the pads, Charith Asalanka nudges it onto the leg side.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Maiden! Flighted delivery on off, Sadeera Samarawickrama blocks it off the front foot.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Nicely bowled! The arm-ball now, on a flatter length around off and this one just comes in sharply. Sadeera Samarawickrama is late on the shot but manages to get his bat in front of the pad and chops it to backward point.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Floated up outside off, pushed away toward cover.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Just holds it back a touch and bowls it on a length around off, Sadeera Samarawickrama keeps it down and plays it toward backward point.

Shakib Al Hasan to Sadeera Samarawickrama, No run.Flatter this time and on middle, Sadeera Samarawickrama blocks it from inside his crease.