Sri Lanka secured their second win of the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 by defeating a determined Hong Kong, China team by four wickets in a match filled with momentum swings on Monday at the Dubai International Stadium.
Reporting from Dubai
After limiting Hong Kong China to 149 from their allotted 20 overs, Sri Lanka reached the target in the 19th over, on the back of Pathum Nissanka’s 17th T20I fifty, who top-scored with 68 for the islanders. Sri Lanka lost four wickets in the space of eight runs but managed to hold their nerve, while Hong Kong, China’s poor catching cost them the match.
After being asked to bat first, Hong Kong, China started their innings well with a brisk 31 runs off the first three overs. Dushmantha Chameera struck first blood as Zeeshan Ali top-edged for 23, with Kusal Mendis holding onto an easy catch to end the 41-run opening stand in the fifth over.
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Hong Kong China’s main experienced batter Babar Hayat was stumped off Wanindu Hasaranga despite wicket-keeper Mendis juggling the ball.
Nizakat Khan and Anshuman Rath added a solid 61-run stand for the third wicket to steer their innings through the middle overs. Just when Hong Kong, China needed to accelerate, Rath found deep mid-wicket as Chameera took his second wicket of the match.
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Despite losing Rath, Hong Kong China managed to reach 149 largely on the back of a solid fifty from Nizakat Khan, who hit four boundaries and two sixes. Khan remained unbeaten on 52 off 38 deliveries.
The Sri Lankans were not up to their usual standards, as they bowled loosely and did not pose much of a threat.
Chasing 150 to win, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis for 11 in the fourth over. He looked to break the early shackles of Sri Lanka’s watchful start.
Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka added 36 for the second wicket before the former threw his wicket away.
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Sri Lanka were 65 for two at the halfway point of the chase, requiring another 85 runs to win. They managed to get closer to the target, scoring 53 runs in the 11th to 15th overs.
Nissanka reached back-to-back fifties, getting to the milestone in just 35 balls. Just when Sri Lanka were looking to close out the game, Nissanka was run out for 68 while attempting the second run. The very next ball, Kusal Perera was struck right in front of the stumps, giving a glimmer of hope to Hong Kong China.
Skipper Charith Asalanka came and perished early for just two runs, followed by Kamindu Mendis, who also looked to clear the fence and was caught in the deep.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka scored a useful unbeaten 26-run partnership for the seventh wicket to take Sri Lanka home. Hasaranga remained unbeaten on 20*.
Hong Kong China will regret the fact that they dropped six catches off Sri Lankan batters, including four opportunities off Pathum Nissanka.
Sri Lanka will play Afghanistan in their third and final Group B match on September 18 in Abu Dhabi.
Hong Kong China – 149/4 (20) – Anshuman Rath 48, Zeeshan Ali 23, Nizakat Khan 52*, Dushmantha Chameera 2/29.
Sri Lanka – 153/6 (18.5) – Pathum Nissanka 68, Kusal Perera 20, Kamil Mishara 19, Wanindu Hasaranga 20*, Yasim Murtaza 2/37.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeeshan Ali | c Kusal Mendis b Dushmantha Chameera | 23 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 135.29 |
| Anshy Rath | c Kamindu Mendis b Dushmantha Chameera | 48 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 104.35 |
| Babar Hayat | st Kusal Mendis b Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Nizakat Khan | not out | 52 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 136.84 |
| Yasim Murtaza | c Dushmantha Chameera b Dasun Shanaka | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Aizaz Khan | not out | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Extras | 13 (b 1 , lb 7 , nb 1, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 149/4 (20 Overs, RR: 7.45) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.25 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 | |
| Dasun Shanaka | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | run out (Yasim Murtaza) | 68 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 154.55 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Anshuman Rath b Ayush Shukla | 11 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 78.57 |
| Kamil Mishara | c Babar Hayat b Aizaz Khan | 19 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 105.56 |
| Kusal Perera | lbw b Yasim Murtaza | 20 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka | not out | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Ayush Shukla b Ehsan Khan | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Babar Hayat b Yasim Murtaza | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | not out | 20 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 222.22 |
| Extras | 2 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 1, w 0, pen 0) |
| Total | 153/6 (18.5 Overs, RR: 8.12) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yasim Murtaza | 4 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 9.25 | |
| Ayush Shukla | 3 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 10.00 | |
| Ateeq Iqbal | 2.5 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 7.20 | |
| Ehsan Khan | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 | |
| Kinchit Shah | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 | |
| Aizaz Khan | 3 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 9.00 | |
