finishes it with a four - Sri Lanka cruise to a five-wicket win! Length ball pulled behind square and beats the fielder in the deep. Asalanka with the pleasure of the winning runs and also remaining not out.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, 2nd Match, Group B at Kandy, Asia Cup, Aug 31 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Enjoy the live show, because that's the end of our text coverage today. On behalf of the rest of our team, a big thank you to ya'll for joining us. See you day after tomorrow for more Asia Cup action!
Matheesha Pathirana is the POTM: "(Feeling of getting POTM in an ODI) This is my first man of the match title for my country, so really happy about it. (T20 skills in ODIs) Slower balls are important, that's why I took wickets in the death. Useful skill from T20s to fifty overs. My bowling is different so a little unpredictable."
Dasun Shanaka, the winning captain: "We thought it was a better pitch than the score Bangladesh scored. The bowlers stood up. (Wickets) The wickets are being used in the LPL so we all know.... (Sadeera and Asalanka) Tricky surface. Sadeera, the way he fielded, it was his day. Asalanka is good signs for Sri Lanka cricket."
10.02pm We'll hear from the winning captain and Player of the Match shortly.
Shakib Al Hasan, losing captain: (Not enough runs?) Yes, it was not a 300 wicket, but we needed 220-230 runs to make a game. (Responsibility of his batting with no Tamim and Litton) Yes more responsibility, I couldn't do it, but as a batting effort we didn't do well. We have a big game coming up. (Captaincy in bowling effort) When they are 30 down for 3, we knew we needed a couple of more wickets, but unfortunately we didn't get that. Bowlers and spinners have been doing their bit for a long time now, just not enough runs on the board. (Positives for crunch games) There are lot of nerves when we started the game but as we kept on batting, in the 20th over, we felt lot more comfortable. This is the first time playing Asia Cup and in away conditions."
Sadeera Samarawickrama: (Came in at a difficult situation) We were two wickets down early so my plan was to bat positive but also continue my batting because we needed partnerships. (Conditions) Batting was not easy on this wicket - we saw for both teams. Spinning and bit slow to fast bowlers but I just backed myself. That's it. (Driving off the front foot and pull shots) I have always backed my strength, that's my strength in batting. I work hard for that, so any situation I back these shots."
9.51pm This is the 11th consecutive win for Sri Lanka in ODIs. A convincing win for Sri Lanka sets them atop Group B, the group of death, while Bangladesh know that their game against Afghanistan on Sunday is now a must-win. A game played in good spirits, no dance moves displayed on the field atleast.
The positives for Bangladesh were Shanto's well-built innings and their fielding effort. Otherwise, Sri Lanka were too hot on the day, and also showed their bowling bench strength is very strong too. Pathirana's four-for led their bowling effort, but Theekshana, de Silva and Wellalage were great too. And then, despite an early hiccup, Sri Lanka rebuild on the back of a strong partnership from Samarawickrama and Asalanka. Both batters finished with half-centuries, a confidence booster ahead of their next game on Tuesday against Afghanistan.
full on leg, pace off this time. Nurdled towards midwicket gently for a single
short of length ball outside off stump. Left alone, genuinely good carry to the keeper
good length ball on off and he flicks it leg side. Taskin appeals for lbw, and the umpire says no. Presumably the umpire thought bat first, if not bat alone. But Bangladesh review - why not, nothing to lose Replay shows it thudded into the pad. NO BAT! So ball tracking now.... and its "umpire's call" on height, just clipping top of middle. Shanaka survives, Bangladesh keep the review.
drags a pull to the leg side off this length delivery
short of length around off. Tucked off his waist towards midwicket for a single
Taskin.
good length ball on off. Opens the bat's face and cuts to point
full ball around off stump and defended off the front foot
he wants to finish this game off in style. And also ruin Mahedi's figures. Length ball on off and Asalanka rocked back in his crease before muscling a pull over deep midwicket.
full ball on off stump. Defended forward
full ball on middle, and worked off his pads to short fine leg
good length ball on middle. Tucked off his pads to deep square leg
full ball on middle, and flicked off his pads to square leg
down the track and he clobbers this full ball over Mehidy's head! Easy as. The swift dance down the track made all the difference
Satya: "@34.2 which Tamim?" -- The debutant Tamim Tanzid Hasan. Tamim is the nickname for Tanzid Hasan.
a misfield helps him get to fifty. He blocked this towards cover, but the fielder misfields, allowing them an afterthought single
defended
full ball outside off, and cut to point
full ball outside off and he defends to the off side
good length ball around off and blocked off the back foot