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DUBAI: Wanindu Hasaranga helped Sri Lanka secure a nervy four-wicket win over Hong Kong in the eighth fixture of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Monday.
Set a 150-run target, Sri Lanka’s lower-order held their nerve as Wanindu Hasaranga starred with a brisk cameo, scoring 20 from just nine balls.
Eventually, the Islanders reached the target in 18.5 overs, losing six wickets in the process.
Sri Lanka lost their opening wicket in the form of Kusal Mendis, who made 11 from 14. As the scorecard read 26-1 in 4 overs, Kamil Mishara joined Pathum Nissanka and steadied the team’s total.
The pair added 36 for the second wicket, not before Mishara’s removal, who added 19 to the total.
Meanwhile, Nissanka held firm and forged a crucial stand with Kusal Perera (20 off 16), which kept Hong Kong bowlers at bay in the middle overs.
Yet, Hong Kong struck, and it was the match’s 15th and 16th over which made things interesting.
First, it was Yasim Murtaza’s 15th over, which yielded two wickets on successive deliveries to halt Sri Lanka’s progress. Perera was the first to go, followed by skipper Charith Asalanka, who could only manage to score two.
Then, in the very next over, another wicket fell, which reduced them to 127-6 in 17.1 overs. Kamindu Mendis did not trouble the scorers much as he was caught long on after making five.
Nonetheless, Hasranga arrived at the crease, capitalising on the no-ball to hit six four to leave the equation nine required from 12 balls. In the second last over, he sneaked two doubles on third and fourth ball before cracking two consecutive fours to seal an emphatic win.
Patthum Nissanka was awarded Player of the Match for his 68 off 44 balls, an innings laced with half a dozen boundaries and two maximums.
For Hong Kong, Yasim Murtaza picked up two wickets.
Earlier, Nizakat Khan’s composed half-century helped Hong Kong set a competitive total.
Earlier, after being put into bat first, Hong Kong chalked up 149 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allocated 20 overs. They made a strong start as they raced to 41 in 4.5 overs, before losing core aggressor Zeeshan Ali.
Ali scored 23 off 17 balls with the help of two fours.
Sri Lanka made a comeback after the power play, removing Babar Hayat for four runs. As a result, Hong Kong were reduced to 57-2 in 8.4 overs.
Nevertheless, Anshy Rath and Nizakat Khan paired up for a 61-run partnership off 43 deliveries, which brought their total to 118 in 15.5 overs.
Rath departed after scoring 48 from 46 with the aid of four boundaries, whereas Nizakat ensured that Hong Kong finished strong at the end of their 20 overs.
He top-scored with 52 from 38 deliveries, striking four boundaries and two sixes.
For Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka managed to scalp one apiece.
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