Sri Lanka Crush Bangladesh by 6 Wickets in Asia Cup

Chasing a modest target of 140, Sri Lanka reached 140/4 in just 14.4 overs, sealing the win with 32 balls to spare. Nissanka top-scored with 50 off 34 deliveries – his first T20I fifty against Bangladesh – while Mishara anchored the innings with an unbeaten 46, steering the team home despite a minor wobble in the middle order.

Earlier, Bangladesh struggled to find momentum after being reduced to 54 for five at the halfway stage. A fighting, unbeaten 86-run stand between Shamim Hossain (42*) and Jaker Ali (41*) salvaged the innings, helping them post 139 for five in their 20 overs.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers set the tone early. Nuwan Thushara struck with the very first ball of the match, removing Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a duck, and Dushmantha Chameera followed it up with another wicket in the next over. The pressure was relentless, with Sri Lanka opening with back-to-back wicket-maidens.

Kamil Mishara’s sharp throw from deep square leg caught Towhid Hridoy short of his crease, compounding Bangladesh’s early woes. Litton Das tried to counter-attack with a quick 28, including three boundaries in one over off Dasun Shanaka, but the Sri Lankan bowlers maintained a stranglehold.

Wanindu Hasaranga (2/25) continued the pressure through the middle overs, spinning a web around the Bangladesh batters before Shamim and Jaker staged a much-needed recovery.

In response, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis early to Mustafizur Rahman (1/35), but that was the only bright spot for Bangladesh with the ball. Mishara, despite a slice of luck when Mahedi Hasan dropped a tough chance at mid-on early in his innings, grew in confidence. He took on Shoriful Islam in the fifth over, smashing 18 runs with two fours and a six.

Nissanka played a classy knock, reaching his fifty with a towering six over midwicket, and also crossed 2,000 T20I runs in the process. The pair added 95 runs for the second wicket in just 52 balls, virtually sealing the contest before Nissanka fell to Mahedi Hasan.

A mini-collapse saw Sri Lanka slip from 108/1 to 126/4, with Mahedi also trapping Kusal Perera LBW. But Mishara and Charith Asalanka (10*) calmly completed the chase, underlining Sri Lanka’s dominance.

With this victory, Sri Lanka have taken a strong step forward in their Asia Cup campaign, while Bangladesh are left to regroup after a disappointing all-round performance.