Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

P Nissanka
68(44) 6x4 - 2x6
Control %79%
  • Productive Shot
  • slog shot
  • 16 runs
  • 1x4 - 2x6
1 4 13 8 6 0 5 31
Nizakat Khan
Nizakat Khan
52(38) 4x4 - 2x6
Control %76%
  • Productive Shot
  • straight drive
  • 16 runs
  • 2x4 - 1x6
0 1 1 10 8 21 8 3

Best performances - Bowlers

PVD Chameera
O4
M0
R29
W2
Eco7.25
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
Yasim Murtaza
O4
M0
R37
W2
Eco9.25
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
2W

Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar

10:25pm And that will be a wrap for this game. Sri Lanka will be relieved they managed to get through this test and that they overcame this scare, even if their skipper was stern in the assessment of his side's performance. Hong Kong go back with a bagful of memories and lots of learnings, which they will now want to put into practice to become a better side, which they would hope allows them to break their Asia Cup duck the next time it comes around. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. But until next time, from Chandan, Ranjith and myself (Shashwat), it is goodbye. Take care, folks!

Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain: (On what they were feeling during the mini batting collapse) In that moment, I think our heart was in our mouths. Few areas I am really disappointed about. First three overs when we were bowling and then the 16th over, we lost a couple of wickets and then lost my wicket. In the shorter format, these things can happen but it cannot keep happening consistently. We have to analyze it and improve ourselves. (On the score) Felt confident because the pitch was looking good. Credit goes to them, they batted really well and we bowled badly in the first three overs. This is not the way we wanted to play. When we are playing these sides, there is a pressure always. But we are professionals and as professionals, we have to do much better than this.

Yasim Murtaza, Hong Kong captain: I am really proud of the way the boys stood up today, especially in the batting. Nizakat and Anshy, their partnership was crucial. We missed a few chances, but in the end, the way the bowlers and batters (played), very proud of them. (On the score and if it was defendable) We wanted 150-160, so got what we wanted. We dropped a few catches and that cost us the game. The positive thing is that (we are) playing on the big stage, (it) is like a dream come true. We will think on a lot of things (after going back) and work on that.

Pathum Nissanka, the Player of the Match says that it was not an easy pitch. Hong Kong bowled well, but his plan was to drag the innings and he is very happy with the way he is batting.

10:05pm Phew. Finally something resembling a thriller at this Asia Cup. This too was a slow burn. At the half-way stage, it felt Sri Lanka had this under control. Then, Hong Kong applied the powerplay squeeze and asked Sri Lanka questions. Nissanka answered most of them through his stunning 44-ball 68, but once he departed, the Sri Lankan innings descended into a bit of a procession, with several quick wickets.

Thankfully for Sri Lanka, they had a deep batting unit to bank upon. Shanaka held up his end of the bargain and Hasaranga, fresh off an injury, came up clutch with a 9-ball 20. Sri Lanka, it must be added, were helped by Hong Kong's wastefulness in the field, and by a No ball by their skipper in the 18th over. And that will sting Hong Kong the most. They could have made this a truly special evening, but they will go back now with that sinking feeling of what could have and perhaps should have been.

18.5
4
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, FOUR, There it is! Sri Lanka have the win they came for, but boy, did they have to work hard for it! Spare a thought for Hong Kong. They gave it everything, and showed a lot of heart, but in the crucial moments, they just could not hold their nerve enough! This is a half-volley on middle and leg. Hasaranga gets his front foot out of the way and bludgeons it back past the bowler. A crushing blow to end things, but had you walked into this game a few minutes ago, it was a pressure cooker, and one that Sri Lanka will be glad and relieved to have emerged from!
18.4
4
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, FOUR, this is an awesome shot under such circumstances! Back of a length just outside off. Hasaranga gives himself room and crunches it between extra cover and mid off!

Sri Lanka a hit away from a win

18.3
2
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, 2 runs, angled in on a length on the pads. Hasaranga helps it round the corner behind square and Shanaka dashes back to the bowler's end (which is where the throw arrives) to complete the second
18.2
2
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, 2 runs, slower ball on a length outside off. Hasaranga has an airy waft at it and skews it off the outside edge past backward point for a brace
18.1
0
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, no run, hard length just outside off. Skids onto Hasaranga and he is awfully late on the stroke. Scuffs it towards extra cover

Iqbal, who has bowled just two overs, to bowl the 19th. Hasaranga on strike. Keeper up to the stumps. 9 off 12

END OF OVER:
18 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 141/6 (9 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.83, RRR: 4.50)

  • Dasun Shanaka6 (3b)
  • Wanindu Hasaranga8 (4b)
  • Yasim Murtaza4-0-37-2
  • Ehsan Khan4-0-25-1
17.6
4
Yasim Murtaza to Shanaka, FOUR, Shanaka finds the fence too, and the tense faces have now morphed into beaming smiles in the stands! This is a drag-down and rather than committing to the front foot, Shanaka hangs back. He then has all the time in the world to pound this past deep mid wicket, and bring the target down to single digits!

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st26BKG MendisP Nissanka
2nd36P NissankaK Mishara
3rd57MDKJ PereraP Nissanka
4th0MDKJ PereraMD Shanaka
5th3MD ShanakaKIC Asalanka
6th5MD ShanakaPHKD Mendis
7th26MD ShanakaPW Hasaranga