“Asalanka has been outstanding for us…,” says Shanaka after win over Bangladesh

Following his team’s five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their Asia Cup 2023 match, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka praised batsman Charith Asalanka for his knock and said that the batsman has been outstanding for them over the last few years. Half-centuries from Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama guided Sri Lanka to a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2023 campaign in Kandy on Thursday.

“The way the bowlers executed is a credit to them.

Especially Theekshana up front, Dhananjaya and Pathirana, who bowls so well.

It was a complicated surface. We thought it was a better pitch than the result Bangladesh got. The players stood up. The grounds are being used in the LPL, as far as we all know (about the conditions). The way Sadeera batted, today was his day. Asalanka has been outstanding for the last 2 years. Good signs for Sri Lankan cricket.” Shanaka said at the post-match presentation.

Asalanka has represented SL in 36 ODIs, scoring 1,155 runs at an average of 42.77 and a strike rate of over 90. He has scored one century and nine fifties in 31 innings, with a best score of 110.



By choosing to bat First, Bangladesh sank. at 36/3 in 10.4 overs. A 59-administration partnership between Najmul Shanto and Towhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh get temporary relief.

However, the game changed after Matheesha Pathirana dismissed wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, reducing Bangladesh to 127/5. Thereafter, no one except Shanto (89 off 122 balls, with seven fours) put up a fight and Bangladesh were bowled out for 164 in 42.4 overs. Pathirana was the pick of the SL bowlers, taking 4/32 in 7.4 overs. Maheesh Theekshana took 2/19 in his eight overs. Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalege and captain Dasun Shanaka took a wicket each.

Chasing 165, SL lost two quick wickets in the form of their openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka and were reduced to 15/2.

After a brief association between Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, SL received another jolt when Shakib sacked Mendis. SL was 43/3.

Then, a 78-run stand between Sadeera (54 off 77 balls with six fours) and Charith Asalanka helped SL reach three figures and took them to the brink of victory. Two more wickets put the defending champions under slight threat, but Asalanka (62* off 92 balls, with five fours and a six) and Shanaka (14*) guided them to a five-wicket victory.Shakib al Hasan was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/29 in his 10 overs. Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Mehadi Hasan took a wicket each.

Pathirana took the ‘Man of the Match’ award for his match-winning spell.