Sri Lankan stalwart Dasun Shanaka, whose all round performance (37-ball 64* & 2-21) went in vain as Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 Super4 match, reckoned that they were 15-20 runs short and paid the price for it. Needing 12 runs off the last two overs in a chase of 169, Bangladesh almost made a hash of it but eventually managed to reach the target with one ball to spare.
“Nothing went wrong actually. So it was a good match…and we were 10-15 runs short,” Shanaka said.
“Actually, 160 was what we initially kept in mind because this was a wicket where runs could be scored. But while batting, we realized we could post around 180. However, they had two good bowling overs. In the 19th over, I think I couldn’t hit a boundary. It was because they bowled well in those last two overs that we were limited to 168,” he said, whose unbeaten 64 runs went in vain.
“I think there was a difference of two boundaries. Wanindu Hasaranga got out on the line while trying for those two. So I think if we had gotten those boundaries, we could have reached our required target but I think 168 was defendable,” he said.
Hard-fought battle from the Sri Lankan bowlers, but Bangladesh held their nerve to win by 4 wickets. 🏏#AsiaCup2025 #SLvBAN #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/jqvtBXyOQt
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 20, 2025
Shanaka added that they also could not put pressure on Bangladesh as their bowling unit misfired.
“I think more than the fifth bowler, it was the execution. If we look at previous matches, Thushara and Chameera bowled a lot of balls hitting the wicket. In this match, I don’t know, those two weren’t able to hit that target (length/spot),” said Shanaka.
“I always believe that if you can take wickets early with the new ball, it gives a huge advantage to the spinners. We weren’t able to do that. Specifically, the opponent played well. I think it was due to our small mistakes that it slipped away. Many things can happen on a pitch like this. Yes, actually our team played a good match. We have two matches remaining in India and Pakistan. If we can win those two matches with a good run rate, we can reach the final. So we are always on the positive side,” he said.
