Co-host Sri Lanka started their Asia Cup 2023 campaign on a winning note as they defeated Bangladesh comfortably by five wickets at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Thursday (August 31). Pacer Matheesha Pathirana took four wickets before Sadeera Samarawickrama scored a crucial half-century to chase down a target of 164.

The innings came after Sri Lanka were in a precarious situation at 41/3 within 10 overs while chasing the below-part total. Bangladesh had a few positives from the defeat too as Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a lone hand of an innings with an 89-run knock.

Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first on what looked like a dry surface. The first powerplay belonged to Sri Lanka as their spinners sent both the Bangladeshi openers back into the dressing room, inside the first eight overs.

Tanzid Hasan, making his debut for Bangladesh, got out on a duck after getting trapped by Maheesh Theekshana on a beautiful drifting delivery. Mohammad Naim followed soon after scoring 16 runs as Dhananjaya de Silva claimed his first wicket.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan was the next to depart as he got out cheaply on just 5 runs, Najmul Shanto provided the much-needed stability to the Bangladeshi innings and brought up his individual half-century as well as a 50-run partnership with Towhid Hridoy (20 runs). However, the Lankan bowlers soon got their reward for keeping things tight as Hridoy's pad was caught on the front foot by Dasun Shanaka. At the end of 25 overs, Bangladesh were still somewhat struggling at 97-4.

As the innings progressed, the Lankan bowlers made it more difficult for the Bangladeshi batters to score runs. Mushfiqur Rahim (13), looking to break the shackles, played an expensive square cut but ended up giving an easy catch to the deep third man. With wickets falling on the other end, Shanto stood his ground and played a fighting knock of 89.

After Shanto's dismissal in the 42nd over, Pathirana, picking up 4 wickets in total, ran over the Bangladeshi tail and brought Bangladesh's innings to a close on 164. It was never a big target to chase for Sri Lanka but the slowness of the track and Bangladesh's quality bowling attack kept them in the hunt.

Pacer Taskin Ahmed and the 2020 U-19 World Cup star Shoriful Islam took a wicket each, very early in the innings and send the Lankan openers into the dressing room, giving a great start to Bangladesh. Now, it was the skipper's turn to shine. Kusal Mendis played one for the turn but there wasn't any as Shakib slid it into the wicket, with his famous arm bowl. The Lankan Lions were struggling with 3 wickets down for 44 runs in 10 overs.

Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka had a huge responsibility on their backs to bring their innings on the track and they responded soundly. Samarawickrama never let the Bangladeshi bowlers settle after the first powerplay, rotating the strikes frequently and hitting the odd boundaries in between.

The duo accumulated 78 runs together and Samarawickrama reached to his well-deserved half-century. Sri Lanka looked under control but soon found themselves in trouble with two wickets falling in quick succession, including Samarawickrama's.

However, the late pressure was short-lived as Asalanka stood up to the challenge, scored his fifty too, and helped Sri Lanka chase down the total with five wickets in hand. Sri Lanka ended with 165/5 in 39 overs.

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