Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh - Asia Cup 2023, Super Four, Colombo

A convincing first win in the Super Four for Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh have suffered their second straight loss. They are still in contention but as mentioned earlier, it won't be easy. Bangladesh started their run-chase positively, but overs 11 to 20 were when Sri Lanka roared back and never let the opposition take command. Sri Lanka picked four wickets in that time frame, conceding only 37 runs. Towhid Hridoy (82) and Mushfiqur (29) added 72 runs for the fifth wicket, but it wasn't enough. Maheesh Theekshana, Dasun Shanaka and Matheesha Pathirana all picked three wickets each as Bangladesh were bowled out for 236.

A 13th consecutive ODI win for Sri Lanka. Also, the 13th time that they have bowled out their opposition in the format, again a record.

Sadeera Samarawickrama: "When I went to bat, it was not easy to bat on so my plan was just to give the momentum to the team, play my natural game and back myself. My plan was to play as late as possible. I was waiting for the ball to come to me and I did not go forward. I was in rhythm and continued my basic things. I was trying to bat deep and my plan was to get the 250 for the team because I knew the wicket was going to help the spinners. Told my partners also that they need to take risks at the end to get past 250 because then the bowlers can defend that total."

Dasun Shanaka: "The Bangladesh bowlers bowled really well, especially Hasan Mahmud so I thought if I hit the same areas it would work well so I stuck to my basics. When there are no frontline bowlers someone needs to chip in and today was my day. Maheesh wasn't able to bowl up front but at the end, Maheesh bowled well and in the end, the result matters. Our players, especially Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama played really well, read the wicket very well."

Shakib Al Hasan: "Well, I thought it was a good toss to win at the start. We didn't bowl particularly well. There was help for the bowlers but we didn't get the wickets but credit goes to Sri Lanka, the way they handled the new ball. We came back really strong but the way Sadeera played, he took the game away from us. 260 on that wicket, we needed a good partnership at the start. We got 50 runs but we needed 80-100 run partnership to chase this because there was help for the bowler, pacers and spinners. Our top four didn't get enough runs and we didn't bowl well at the start. [On Hridoy] He batted really well. He played LPL here so he brought that confidence. He played really well. If he could have batted a little longer, but then there are always a lot of ifs and buts. But Sri Lanka played better than us which is why they won. Seamers were a little on the expensive side but they also picked up all the wickets so you cannot complain."

Maheesh Theekshana: " I had a plan with the old ball, and with the five fielders on the outside I had bring my experience into play and that got us back into the game. [On his injury] Yeah it was difficult to grip [for the carrom ball] but when you are playing for country, it doesn't matter. You have to be at your best. Someone as to put their hand up and do well for the team. I wanted to bowl wicket to wicket because the wicket was a bit tricky. We went with that plan and executed well. We had a very good field setup for them.”

Yes, they are for now informs Sampath. They still have a chance if other results go their way and win big against India. It is, however, going to get a lot tough for them.

That was the number Sri Lanka were chasing when this game started. What’s with the number you ask? Well, the win takes them to 13 consecutive ODI wins and helps them become the team with the second-longest winning streak in the format going past Pakistan and South Africa. Only the Australians of 2003 achieved a longer streak.

Matheesha Pathirana picked up the ninth wicket, smashing Shoriful Islam’s stumps with a full ball. Hasan Mahmud picked a couple of fours against Pathirana, but the fast bowler had the last laugh. There was a six hit by Nasum Ahmed off Maheesh Theekshana, which involved an acrobatic effort by the fielder at long-on. That brought down the equation to 22 off two overs.

But the youngest slinger in town sealed the deal with a spearing yorker and helped Sri Lanka win by 21 runs with Bangladesh allout for 236

Has this 44th over sealed the game for Sri Lanka? Theekshana tries a quicker carrom ball, but the ball slips out of his hand well down leg, and what's worse, the umpire deems it to be over the waist.

A free-hit is pummeled straight over the bowler's head but Theekshana then comes back in style.

Gets the carrom ball in line, which pitches on middle and breaches Hridoy's defences. He was struck on leg stump but the umpire's finger went up, which was important. He takes the review, and DRS comes back as umpire's call with the ball clipping leg stump. He has to depart for a sensational 82 off 97.

Theekshana, however, is not done yet. He then traps Taskin Ahmed in front of the sticks to pick his third. Injured or not, he surely has all but sealed the game for Sri Lanka. Bangladesh 200 for 8 after 44.

He might not be at his absolute best today, he might be hampered with a thumb injury, but that won't stop Maheesh Theekshana from picking wickets. Gets the carrom ball on point on middle and leg which skids through and hits Shamim Hossain bang in front of the stumps. The umpire's finger is up in a jiffy. Shamim reviews, more in hope and loses the review with replays confirming the ball would have crashed into the middle pole.

The very next over, though, the game could have been sealed with Towhid Hridoy mistiming a full Pathriana delivery to Theekshana at extra cover, but he fails to hang on to a low catch. How crucial will that be?

Towhid Hridoy has most certainly picked up pace since Mushfiqur got out. His first 47 runs took 72 balls, the next 18 have taken nine. His running, in particular, has been top class and he has been backed rather efficiently by Shamim Hossain. Hridoy remains the key here. Bangladesh reach 177 for 5 after 40 overs.

He now becomes a vital cog in this chase. Gets to the landmark off 73 balls with four fours to his name. He got an easy good length ball on his hips that he tickled down to the fine leg fence. Doesn't celebrate much because he knows he has a lot to do here. Needs to remain till the end.

Here's Mohammad Isam, who has seen a fair bit of Hridoy: Towhid Hridoy has been one of the brightest graduates from Bangladesh's Under-19 World Cup winning side from 2020. He has come a long way from the 2022 BPL final when he failed to get going for the Barishal franchise. Since then, he has fired in the 2023 BPL, being one of the top five scorers. Then came his ODI debut in which he made 92 against Ireland in Sylhet. It underlined Hridoy's quality and form. He has been one of the fluent batters in this Bangladesh line-up. He also did okay in the LPL, so he has some sense of Sri Lankan conditions.

He cannot put a foot wrong today, can he? With the asking rate now above 8, Bangladesh decide to go for their shots. Towhid Hridoy shimmies down the track first ball of the 38th over, driving Dasun Shanaka firmly to extra cover, before Mushfiqur tries the same, but aerially. However, Shanaka rolled his fingers on the offcutter meaning the ball arrived a little late with the batter already down the track. He loses his shape and miscues Shanaka straight to mid-off. The crowd breaks into a huge roar.

Sri Lanka counter-punched and now Bangladesh are hitting back hard through Hridoy and Mushfiqur. How much are they comfortable chasing in the last ten overs? 70-75? The game plan for the two is simple: take the chase deep. With Maheesh Theekshana also not being as effective, Bangladesh know they have a great chance here. Bangladesh on 152 for 4 after 36.

Not a lot of boundaries but Towhid Hridoy and Mushfiqur Rahim have kept Bangladesh steady of late. The required rate has crept over seven an over, but don't think Bangladesh will mind that. Hridoy has looked very compact, I must add. Has shown composure, rotated the strike and never really looked hurried. And Mushfiqur, on the other hand, has just been his steady self. He's been in such scenarios so many times and just knows how to shepherd a chase. They bring up a fifty-run stand off 85 balls and will want the game to go deep. Bangladesh move to 135 for 4 after 33 overs.

If the on-air comms are to be believed, Maheesh Theekshana is not bowling his carrom ball and wrong’un as much as compared to the offspinner. Remember, he was hit on the thumb by a quick short-of-a-length ball from Taskin Ahmed. And that could be affecting his grip. Could prove to be crucial.

Sri Lanka have Bangladesh on a tight leash here. Matheesha Pathirana is working up some pace, getting those yorkers in on point, while Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya de Silva and Maheesh Theekshana have all been more than decent. At the halfway stage, Bangladesh are on 101 for 4 and need 157 more to win.

This match has now turned on its head completely. If the first ten overs went to Bangladesh, the next ten have Sri Lanka written all over them. They conceded just 37 runs during this time and knocked over four Bangladesh wickets.

Matheesha Pathirana troubles Mushfiqur Rahim with a few bouncers before Dunith Wellalage gets rid of Litton Das to an almost nothing delivery. He gets the around-the-wicket angle going his way. Tosses up a fuller-length ball outside off as Litton attempts an expansive drive but all he can manage is a thin inside edge that bounces off Mendis’ knee and settles into the gloves. Bangladesh are 84 for 4 after 20 overs.

Here's the sequence of balls between overs 16 to 20.

Oh, this game has come to life and how. Sri Lanka are fighting back and now suddenly have their noses right in front. Matheesha Pathirana starts after drinks and concedes a four first ball. But comes back to take out the Bangladesh captain. Shakib Al Hasan slashes at a back of a length ball angling away from him. He seems to get a thick edge to the keeper, but the umpire says no. Sri Lanka opt for an immediate review and UltraEdge proves them right. Shakib falls for 3, Sri Lanka 73 for 3 after 16.

Dasun Shanaka is on a roll here. He has amped up his pace for certain and is hurrying the batters all around, something which one might not associate with Shanaka. After sending back Mehidy, he now beats Mohammad Naim for pace. Gets a short ball aimed right at the body. He tries to fend at it but ends up getting a top edge that lobs straight up to the keeper. Naim’s struggle ends on 21 off 46.

Shanaka then also has Shakib Al Hasan in trouble striking him on the pads as he misses the flick. The umpire stays unmoved as Sri Lanka opt for the review. Replays, however, suggest the ball pitched outside leg stump. Sri Lanka have done to dry out the runs lately and have accounted for the openers as well.

The sequence of balls between overs 11 to 14. Bangladesh move to 65 for 2 after 15 overs.

Bangladesh breach the fifty mark in 11th over but the captain Dasun Shanaka gives Sri Lanka a timely wicket. Just when things were starting to get a tad easy for the duo. Matheesha Pathirana was introduced into the attack in the 11th over and while he worked up good speeds, his lines were awry.

But Shanaka got into the act to raise Sri Lanka's hopes. He hurried Mehidy with a short of a length ball around middle stump. The batter, late on the pull, could only get it away off the high part of his bat with substitute fielder Hemantha, taking a good catch over his head at midwicket.

Litton Das walks in at No. 3.

After bagging a duck in the previous game, Mehidy Hasan Miraz is back to his scoring ways. After two fours off Theekshana's first over, he cracks Rajitha off the backfoot through covers. Mohammad Naim, on the other hand, had some luck early on, when a genuine thick edge flew past the lone slip. But he has since been a picture of solidity. He's driven and cut well and more importantly picked on balls that there there to be latched on. Bangladesh need just a shade over five an over and, for now, they are keeping up with the asking rate.

Too early to say, but it does feel that the ball is coming on to the bat a bit better. Maybe the lights doing their bit.

So Bangladesh are sticking with Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the top of the order despite him getting a duck in the previous innings, while Litton Das stays in the middle. Kasun Rajitha starts off for Sri Lanka. He does get some movement, nothing prodigious but was a bit too straight in the first over especially to left-hander Mohammad Naim. Mehidy meanwhile gets going with a late cut past short third before driving the bowler on the up through point. Excellent start for him and Bangladesh.

India captain Rohit Sharma, meanwhile paid a visit to Percy Abeysekera, fondly known as Uncle Percy, who has been a big fan of the Sri Lanka team and can often be spotted in stadiums. Uncle Percy celebrated his 87th birthday in August.

Fifties from Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis got Sri Lanka to 257, but the question remains will it be enough? At the start of the innings, the ball was hooping around no end, with the surface also aiding a lot of turn. The fast bowlers will no doubt get some help under lights so Bangladesh will have to be watchful at the start. The 258 target is not ungettable, but it’s certainly not an easy one. Bangladesh’s top three will need to fire. Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana will hold the absolute key here, I feel. There is also a forecast for some rain later in the evening, so we’ll see how that pans out.

Here's Andrew Fidel Fernando, who saw Samarawickrama's innings unfold: The thing that struck me in this innings was Sadeera’s footwork. He’s been both backing away to leg, and moving nice and early across to off to access areas square of the wicket. He is anyway strong there, but we haven’t seen him drive, as he would usually do. He’s had great judgement against the spinners too - picking lengths and getting into position really early.

Here's what Samarawickrama has to say: "When I went to bat it was not easy at all. We really struggled to get singles but Pathum and Kusal gave us a good start. I just wanted to go there and rotate strike and give the momentum to the team. I really just stuck to the basics. It was really hard to play little bit forward so I planned to play as late as I can. I think the spinners were more challenging because the wicket is a bit holding. [Nature of the pitch] I think the past few days it was raining so the wicket was covered so that's the reason it's a bit softer and slow. Really happy [with the score]. It's not a 280-300 kind of a pitch."

Sadeera Samarawickrama carries on his merry ways first sweeping Shakib Al Hasan for a four behind square before hooking Hasan Mahmud for a six over deep backward square leg - incidentally his first six in ODIs. He also reached his highest score in ODIs as Sri Lanka breached 250 in the final over. Bangladesh, however, made sure to not let Sri Lanka run away with the game. Hasan Mahmud effected a run out to catch Dunith Wellalage short of his ground before Taskin Ahmed's rip-snorter of a short ball had Maheesh Theekshana gloving to Mushfiqur.

Samarawickrama, however, made sure Sri Lanka ended on a high. He helped Taskin past short fine leg before hacking a full-length ball over the deep point fence with his bat speed doing all the job. He fell off the final ball of the innings, mistiming a heave to deep midwicket but not before taking his side to a competitive 257 for 9 slamming 93 off 72 balls.

Sri Lanka have certainly picked up the pace lately. Between overs 40 to 45, they scored 41 runs without losing a wicket. While Samarawickrama was certainly been the aggressor, Shanka too looked busy. But Mahmud, once more put on the brakes sending back Shanaka for 24. The Sri Lanka captain tried to get cheeky as he got across to paddle an on-pace fuller-length ball just outside off. But all he could manage was to drag a bottom edge back onto his stumps. All down to Samarawickrama in the last three overs. Sri Lanka will eye at least 250 from here.

It feels like Sadeera Samarawickrama is batting on a different surface today. Every Sri Lanka batter has so far struggled to get their timing on point. Not Samarawickrama. He came out with intent and put the pressure on the bowlers right away. He did not always get the boundaries away but kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely and only in the later half of the innings did he get some fours away. Gets to his fifty with a terrific pull through backward square leg. He is a busy player and has also helped Shanaka gain some confidence. The duo bring up a crucial fifty-run stand off just 47 balls with Samarawickrama doing the bulk of the scoring.

Here's Andrew Fidel Fernando on Shanaka's lean run: So this is a massive innings for Dasun Shanaka, who has had a horrendous run in ODIs late. Since hitting 108* in Guwahati in January, he has not crossed 50 once. His last few innings are 5, 14*, 1, 5, 0, 5, 1, 23, 17, 31, and 0. A truly miserable sequence.

He has tended to get out to legspinners all the way through that stretch (in his last match he was bowled by Rashid Khan), so will hope that the absence of a frontline wristspinner in the Bangladesh side will help him out.

Sri Lanka have had much better ODI results since he became captain than in the two or three years before. But they may reconsider the leadership if Shanaka’s lean patch continues

On the field, it's not looking great for Sri Lanka as they lose their fifth. Hasan Mahmud, who has bowled so well today, now gets into the act. Gets a good length ball to shape slightly away from Dhananjaya de Silva, who was looking to cut it away. He gets a thick outside edge for a simple catch to Mushfiqur. In comes captain Dasun Shanaka now, and isn't he desperate for runs? While leading Sri Lanka to 12 wins in a row, he has averaged only 7.71 in eight innings. He starts off with a four through point. That might be the start of something.

And this one's not looking promising, rather ominous. Dark clouds are looming over the R.Premadasa Stadium and the groundstaff has gathered around, which is never a good sign. The floodlights have also been switched on. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are trying for quick runs now, with Sadeera Samarawickrama showing some urgency.

It is the sustained pressure that Bangladesh have built that brought about the wicket. Between overs 26.1 to 32, Sri Lanka could only muster 23 runs managing just one four. Sensing the need for quick runs, Charith Asalanka tried to take on Tamim Ahmed but failed to do so. The quick deceived Asalanka with a perfectly disguised slower offcutter that the batter could only slice straight up with mid-on getting across and completing a simple catch. The pressure is now squarely on Sri Lanka with the run rate languishing around the 4.40 mark at the end of 34 overs.

Here's the sequence of balls between overs 26 to 32.

Shoriful Islam has certainly been Bangladesh's best bowler today. He got some movement with the new ball and then picked out the two key wickets of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Here's Mohammad Isam on the young fast bowler's rise, fall and rise.

Even in such a short international career of two years and a few months, Shoriful Islam is already having to make a comeback. Shoriful fell out of favour in mid-2022 after a few expensive spells. Even in the Ireland series in Chelmsford, Shoriful had a tough time, once conceding 83 in a game.

The seven wickets in the Asia Cup thus far is part of his comeback which had begun in July when he took a four-wicket haul in an ODI against Afghanistan in Chattogram.

What has looked different is his length, how Shoriful has used both the short ball at the body and the often used fuller length delivery that zips into the right-handers. An in-form Shoriful is necessary, especially with Ebadot Hossain out for many months.

He might have had a life earlier, but Mendis has looked confident so far this innings. He has attacked both pace and spin in equal measure and gets to his half-century courtesy of a smashing pull to the left of deep square leg off 69 balls.

But he fails to carry on falling to an almost nothing shot. Shoriful bangs one short outside off. Mendis stands tall and eyes the ramp. Think he was looking to get some more bat on that but was deceived by the lack of pace. Deep third is straight enough and Taskin Ahmed gobbles up a simple catch.

Shoriful strikes once more and is absolutely pumped up. Has all the reasons for it. Sri Lanka now have two new batters at the crease.

And finally some luck for Shoriful who has bowled so well. He gets the slower offcutter going on a length into Nissanka. He looks to open the face of the bat and guide to deep third. The ball though hits his pad first before bat and the umpire gives him lbw without much hesitation. Nissanka reviews with the impact coming up umpire's call and the ball smashing into the stumps. Big wicket for Bangladesh who have broken a 74-run stand.

This time it is Shamim Hossain who drops a much simpler chance off Shoriful Islam in the 22nd over. Both fast bowlers get the batters to play false shots but don’t get backed up by the fielders. Shoriful aims a short-of-a-length ball into the body of Mendis from the around the wicket angle. Mendis pulls but does not connect as well. Shamim misjudges the flight of the ball and runs in from the deep backward square leg fence when he should have stayed on the ropes. The ball ends up bursting through his hands and what’s worse goes over the ropes.

A couple of balls later, Shoriful deceives Mendis with a lovely slower offcutter outside off but as has been his lucky, he gets a thick outside edge that flies past the keeper. The over might have gone for 12 but Shoriful had the upper hand.

Kusal Mendis is coming into the game on the back of an 84-ball 92 against Afghanistan. And he has straightway looked confident here. He started off his innings with a powerful four past mid-off before dragging Shakib to the deep midwicket fence.

Pathum Nissanka, on the other hand, hasn’t always been in control with his shots, but has weathered the early storm and now will be looking to go big. He had life on 36 with Mushfiqur Rahim, the keeper failing to hold on to a tough chance. It was Hasan Mahmud, brought back into the attack in the 19th over, who induced a thick outside edge. Mushfiqur made a valiant leap to his right but failed to latch on. Nissanka has a control percentage of just 69% so far, but he’s hung in, which is important.

The duo brought up their 50-run stand off 80 balls, and this partnership will be important as Sri Lanka look to lay a solid platform.

The Colombo surface has seamed so likely it will spin as well, right? That seems to be the case here on first evidence. Captain Shakib Al Hasan introduces himself in the ninth over the innings and finds some sharp turn right away. A few balls have also stopped a touch.

Nasum Ahmed also finds some turn, though he hasn’t been as effective as Shakib, who has kept the batters second-guessing on more than one occasion.

Historically as well, Colombo has aided spinners a lot more. In ODIs since 2021, spinners have picked up 62% of the wickets to fall here and they have a better average and economy rate.

The ball is definitely hooping around, for both Taskin and Hasan Mahmud. Hasan, in particular, is getting a lot of movement and lift off the surface. Both bowlers have induced multiple false shots, and the batters have played a missed number of times but remained steady in the first five overs.

Dimuth Karunaratne then opens up his shoulders a bit getting two successive fours off Hasan. He first clips the bowler through midwicket and follows it up with a delightful straight drive that just pings off the blade. But, Hasan comes back with a peach of a length ball that pitches on middle and shapes away late, catching a thin outside edge of Karunaratne’s blade who was squared up. Not much he could have done there, to be fair. Top work. Hasan is delighted and lets the batter know. In comes Kusal Mendis.

Taskin Ahmed has the new ball. He has been impressive so far in the tournament. This is not a must-win game for Bangladesh, but they will want to get some points going their way. Pathum Nissanka to take strike with Dimuth Karunaratne at the other end.

Movement right away and Taskin induces an inside-edge first ball. But some fortune for Nissanka as the ball sneaks past the off stump for a four.

Taskin seems to have exacted revenge a few balls later trapping Nissanka in front of the stumps with the in-dipper. The umpire raises his finger in a jiffy, but DRS saves Nissanka with replays confirming the ball would have gone over the stumps. Nissanka then laces a cover drive before being beaten again. Eventful first over.

Almost game time! The two teams are lining up for the respective national anthems. Bangladesh's first, followed by Sri Lanka's. Andrew Fidel Fernando informs that the ground is like 10% full and that he's never seen it like this for a Sri Lanka match even on a weekday. What could be the reason? Hope more crowd trickles in as the game progresses.

The weather is beautiful says Dominic Cork at the toss. Tails is the call from Shakib, and he has called correctly. We are fielding first, he says.

Shakib Al Hasan: Some rain around and we are playing with one extra bowler so we can restrict Sri Lanka. Today is a game, we fancy our chances, and we will try our best. Playing Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka won’t be easy, so we have to be at our best. No complacency from us. It will be a little different than Pakistan. One change, Nasum Ahmed playing in place of Afif Hossain.

Dasun Shanaka: We would have batted first. It’s a used wicket. And in the lights, the ball will move and spinners will get some turn. The games do go down to the wire. It is a good batting track. With the lights on, there will be some movement. Used wickets, so there will be some turn. Same team.

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

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

The weather will remain a talking point in Colombo without doubt. While all eyes are fixed on the key India-Pakistan clash that is tomorrow (and the reserve day...not going there), rain is expected to make its way today as well.

Or is it?

Andrew Fidel Fernando informs us that Colombo has been the clearest and sunniest it's been for a few days. So, what do you know, the weather might after all not become an issue today and we might just get in an uninterrupted game.