SL vs BAN: Dasun Shanaka Hails Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama After Win Over Bangladesh In Asia Cup 2023

The Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka National Cricket Team won by 21 runs against the Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh National Cricket Team in Match No.2 of the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday, September 9.

Bangladesh won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to bat first in the match. Batting first, the Lankan Team posted a good total of 257/9 on the board, thanks to Sadeera Samarawickrama’s sensational innings. Samarawickrama scored 93 runs off 72 balls while Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, and Dasun Shanaka chipped in with crucial runs to help their side post a good total on the board.

Defending the target, captain Shanaka brought out his best with the ball and cleaned up both the openers – Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim. The bowlers kept bowling well before Mushfiqur Rahim and Towhid Hridoy started to push Sri Lanka on the backfoot with their half-century partnership. However, Shanaka once again shined as he dismissed Mushfiqur to put the Bangla Tigers in a miserable position.

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In the end, Towhid Hridoy got out after playing a fighting knock of 82 runs and Bangladesh were bundled out for 236. Dasun Shanaka was the hero for Sri Lanka in the bowling department as he bagged three wickets by giving away runs at an economy of 3.11. Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana also got three wickets each while Dunith Wellalage picked up one wicket.

With the victory, they extended their winning streak to 13 in ODIs and have become the first Asian team and overall the second team after Australia to win 13 consecutive ODIs.

Bangladesh bowlers bowled really well, especially Hasan Mahmud – Dasun Shanaka

Speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, Dasun Shanaka lauded Bangladesh bowlers and gave a special shoutout to Hasan Mahmud for bowling really well. He said:

“Bangladesh bowlers bowled really well, especially Hasan Mahmud. So I thought if I hit the seam, it can work. And I delivered.”

Sri Lanka are participating in the Asia Cup 2023 without their four frontline bowlers and Dasun Shanaka said that in the absence of the key bowlers someone had to step up and he did that exactly for his side against Bangladesh. He also lauded Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis for their performance with the bat on a tricky surface. Dasun Shanaka said:

“When there’s no frontline bowlers, someone needs to chip in. Normally Kasun and Maheesh deliver at the top. But Maheesh delivered at the end. It’s matter of time, I have played good enough cricket to deliver. Kusal and Sadeera read the wicket really well and played accordingly.”