Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong Highlights, Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka beat Hong Kong by 4 wickets

Dushmantha Chameera to Babar Hayat, Nagging length and around middle, defended off the front foot to the left of the mid-wicket. A successful over for Sri Lanka.

Babar Hayat walks out to bat number 3.

Dushmantha Chameera to Zeeshan Ali, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Dushmantha Chameera strikes, and Sri Lanka have a breakthrough. On a hard length, angling in from over the wicket, around off, Zeeshan Ali presses back and looks to swipe it across. But as the ball gets some extra bounce, he only manages to get a top edge that flies high in the air but goes towards first slip. The keeper, Kusal Mendis, calls for the catch and pouches it around his chest. Chameera is pumped up, and so are his teammates as they celebrate the wicket. Zeeshan Ali departs for 23 (17), and Hong Kong, China are 41/1.

Dushmantha Chameera to Zeeshan Ali, LOW BOUNCE! On a length and outside off, Zeeshan Ali extends his arms and looks to cut, but the ball stays low and goes under the bat to the keeper, who grabs it on the bounce behind the wickets.

Dushmantha Chameera to Zeeshan Ali, Short of a length and wide outside off, Zeeshan Ali throws his hands at it and looks to cut it but gets it off the inside half of the bat. The ball goes to the right of deep third and they run two.

Dushmantha Chameera to Anshy Rath, On a good length and around middle, nudged away through backward square leg for one.

Dushmantha Chameera to Anshy Rath, Hard length and around off, with some extra bounce, Anshy Rath tries to cut it at first but gets surprised by the extra bounce and decides to leave it in the end.

Change of ends Dushmantha Chameera.

Maheesh Theekshana to Anshy Rath, Short and around off, Anshy Rath knocks it down towards mid off and takes a single. Hong Kong, China are 38/0 after four overs.

Maheesh Theekshana to Zeeshan Ali, Short and around middle, turned away through mid-wicket for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Zeeshan Ali, WIDE! GOOD STOP! Full toss but down the leg side, Zeeshan Ali misses his flick shot. However, the keeper, Kusal Mendis moves to his left and puts down his left boot to make a good stop to save some runs for his side. Called a wide.

Maheesh Theekshana to Anshy Rath, Full and around off, Anshy Rath knocks it down to lonog on for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Zeeshan Ali, Short and around middle and leg, Ali backs away and drags it down to long on for one.

Maheesh Theekshana to Zeeshan Ali, Slower and fuller, outside off, Zeeshan Ali uses his feet and looks to go inside out over covers but gets an outside edge. Luckily for him, the ball goes in the gap to the left of short third and they get two runs.

Maheesh Theekshana to Zeeshan Ali, Full and around middle and leg, Zeeshan Ali tries to flick it off the back foot but misses. Gets pinged on the front pad and there is an half appeal for LBW but is turned down as it could be sliding down leg.

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, On a good length and around off, Ali taps it with soft hands towards mid off and sets off for a quick single. The fielder makes a throw to the bowling end, but he misses and there is an overthrow, but neither batter takes any extra run. Hong Kong, China are off to a good start with 31/0 in three overs.

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, FOUR! Well, that was easy pickings but Zeeshan nearly made a meal of it. Full and on the pads, moving in, Zeeshan Ali shifted his weight on the front foot and looked to flick it but got it off the inside half of the bat. The ball raced away in the gap to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Nuwan Thushara to Anshy Rath, On a length and outside off, Rath throws his hands at it and slices it uppishly but in the gap to deep backward point for one.

Nuwan Thushara to Anshy Rath, EDGED AND FOUR! Full and swinging back in, around leg, Anshy Rath comes forward and tries to flick it but gets an inside edge. The ball clips his front pad and beats the diving keeper to his right behind the wickets for a boundary.

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, Moving away, on a length and outside off, Ali waits and taps it down through cover point for one.

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, Lands it full and around off, and there is some late outswing. Zeeshan Ali uses his feet and looks to flick it, but gets a leading edge. The ball flies over extra cover and they take two runs.

Dushmantha Chameera to Anshy Rath, FOUR! SMACKED! Full and outside off, Anshy Rath comes forward and crisps his drive to beat the diving extra cover fielder to his right for a boundary. Kamil Mishara could have done better there. Hong Kong, China are 18/0 after two overs.

Dushmantha Chameera to Zeeshan Ali, On a hard length and around middle, Ali presses back and swipes it to deep backward square leg for one.

Dushmantha Chameera to Anshy Rath, Good running between the wickets! Full and around middle, shaping in, Anshy Rath prods forward and flicks it to the left of mid on. Charith Asalanka hunts it down as the outfield isn't that quick. Three runs taken.

Dushmantha Chameera to Anshy Rath, Full and around middle, clipped it to mid-wicket off the front foot.

Dushmantha Chameera to Zeeshan Ali, On a good length and around off, Zeeshan Ali tries to slash but gets an outside edge that rolls down to short third. A single taken. The Lankan bowlers habe been pretty accurate so far.

Dushmantha Chameera to Anshy Rath, Full and aruond middle, Rath looks to flick it but gets an inside edge that rolls away towards backward square leg for a single.

Dushmantha Chameera has hurt his right wrist while trying to go for the catch on the last ball of the first over. The physio is in to apply some magic spray, and he is good to go now. He will bowl from the other end.

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, EDGED AND DROPPED! On a length and outside off, moving away, Zeeshan Ali throws his hands at it and looks to cut it but gets an outside edge that goes towards Dushmantha Chameera at gully. Chameera flings himself low to his right with his extended right hand but the ball doesn't stick to it. A single taken and Chameera looks in pain. How costly will it prove to Sri Lanka?

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, EDGED AND FOUR! Again, luck favours the batter here! Full and angling in, around middle, Zeeshan Ali comes forward and looks to drive it but gets an inside edge that goes past the stumps and races away to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, LBW GIVEN! GONE! However, Zeeshan Ali has referred it upstairs straightaway. On a length and angling in, around middle, Zeeshan Ali presses back and looks to pick it up with a pull shot but misses. Gets pinged high on the front pad. An appeal goes up for LBW from the bowler and the keeper, and this time, the umpire raises his finger. The third umpire is called in, and there is a clear spike when the ball has passed the bat. The on-field call gets overturned, and it is deemed a NOT OUT. A successful review from Hong Kong, China and Ali survives.

Nuwan Thushara to Anshy Rath, Leg bye! An appeal for LBW from the bowler but the umpire shakes his head. On a length and shaping in, down leg, Anshy Rath looks to flick it but misses. Gets rapped on the front pad and the ball gets deflected towards cover. Both batters sneak a leg bye. Could have been going down leg.

Nuwan Thushara to Anshy Rath, Pitched up and around middle, Rath prods forward and flicks it to mid on.

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, Hong Kong, China and Zeeshan Ali are underway straightaway but in a streaky fashion. Swings it away does Nuwan, on the fuller length and around off, Ali takes a step forward and looks to flick it but gets a leading edge that goes in the gap between cover point and extra cover. Three runs taken.

We are all set to begin now! The Sri Lankan players are taking up their respective field positions under the bright lights of the Dubai International Stadium. Zeeshan Ali and Anshy Rath are the two openers for Hong Kong, China. Nuwan Thushara, with his slinging action, has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

Not far away from the first ball now, but before that, the players from the sides make their way out to the middle and line up for the national anthems. It will be Hong Kong, China's first, followed by the national anthem of Sri Lanka.

PITCH REPORT - Roshan Abeysinghe is pitchside. He says that it is a brand new pitch, but a bit dry as well. Russel Arnold joins him and agrees with him.  Adds that there are a few cracks, and we can expect a tennis-ball bounce. Says that the spinners will have a say and chasing is the better option here, but also does not expect it to change much.

Yasim Murtaza, the skipper of Hong Kong, China, says that his team did really well in the last game and they want to repeat the same performance tonight. On team combinations, he confirms one change, with Kalhan Challu making way for Shahid Wasif. Speaking about the approach, he explains that while winning games is important, work ethic remains a priority for the side. On their chances, he admits that they cannot qualify for the Super Four because of a low net run rate, even if they win this match. However, he adds that the team is quite satisfied with their performances in the last two games and now wants to finish the tournament on a high note.

The skipper of Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka, says that it looks like a decent pitch and they prefer chasing. Adds that he feels the pitch is a bit drier and could be a bit slower. Mentions that the last game was almost perfect, but they will not take any opponent lightly. Informs that Maheesh Theekshana is back in the team in place of Matheesha Pathirana.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka (C), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, and Maheesh Theekshana (In place of Matheesha Pathirana).

Hong Kong, China (Playing XI) - Zeeshan Ali (WK), Anshy Rath, Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Yasim Murtaza (C), Aizaz Khan, Kinchit Shah, Shahid Wasif (In place of Kalhan Challu), Ehsan Khan, Ayush Shukla, and Ateeq Iqbal.

TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favour of Sri Lanka, and the skipper, Charith Asalanka, has elected to FIELD first.