Asia Cup T20 2025: Sri Lanka's Win Over Bangladesh

The Comeback That Wasn't: How Sri Lanka Crushed Bangladesh

If you were looking for a high-octane, nail-biting encounter, the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka T20 Asia Cup match on September 13th wasn't it. But if you were looking for a tactical masterclass, a ruthless display of power, and a comeback story that fell just short of a miracle, then you were in the right place. This was a game of two halves, a tale of two very different approaches, and a resounding statement from a Sri Lankan team that's out to prove a point.

In the end, Sri Lanka cruised to a dominant six-wicket victory, but that simple statement doesn’t even begin to tell the full story of the 5th match of Group B at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Relive the thrilling Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka T20 Asia Cup 2025 match. Get the final score, key stats, and a breakdown of Sri Lanka's dominant victory.

The Horror Show: How Bangladesh's Innings Collapsed

Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Bangladesh's captain Litton Das must have had a simple plan: put a good score on the board and let the bowlers do the rest. The plan, however, was in tatters within the first two overs. Sri Lanka's new-ball bowlers, Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera, came out swinging with an intensity that sent shivers down the spine. In a stunning display of skill, they bowled two consecutive wicket-maidens, a feat so rare in T20s that it felt almost unreal.

Bangladesh's top order simply had no answers. Tanzid Hasan was bowled by a perfect yorker from Thushara, and Parvez Hossain Emon followed a few balls later, caught behind off a peach of a delivery from Chameera. The scorecard read 0 for 2, and the Tigers were in a state of utter shock. The procession continued as the Sri Lankan bowlers, led by the wily spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, kept chipping away. Hasaranga, as usual, was a nightmare to face, with his googly proving to be unreadable even for the most experienced batsmen. He picked up two key wickets, including the captain Litton Das for a gritty 28. At 53 for 5, Bangladesh was on the brink of an all-out disaster.

The Redemption Arc: A Partnership to Remember

Just when all hope seemed lost, two players decided to rewrite the script. Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali came together and stitched a partnership that was nothing short of heroic. They didn't just survive; they counter-attacked. They rotated the strike, found the gaps, and hammered the occasional boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking. Their 86-run stand for the sixth wicket was the stuff of legends, a defiant punch back at a Sri Lankan side that had assumed the game was over.

Shamim Hossain finished with a gutsy 42 not out from 34 balls, and Jaker Ali with an equally impressive 41 not out from 34 balls. Their efforts dragged Bangladesh to a respectable, if not winning, total of 139 for 5. It was a recovery that showed immense character and gave their bowlers something, anything, to defend.

The Chase: A Clinical Display of Dominance

With 140 to get, Sri Lanka's chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, came out with a clear plan to score quickly and put the match to bed. While Mendis fell early to a beautiful delivery from Mustafizur Rahman, it was a minor blip in a near-perfect chase.

The star of the show for Sri Lanka was undoubtedly Pathum Nissanka. He was in sublime form, manipulating the field and finding the gaps with ease. His innings was a blend of classic shots and T20 power, and he reached a fluent half-century off just 34 balls, a knock that also made him the fastest Sri Lankan to reach 2,000 T20I runs. Alongside him, the young Kamil Mishara played a brilliant supporting role, finishing with a crucial 46 not out off 32 balls.

Despite a brief wobble when Nissanka and Kusal Perera fell in quick succession, the chase never looked in doubt. The Sri Lankan batters were simply too good, and they finished the job with an astonishing 32 balls to spare, reaching the target in just 14.4 overs. This comprehensive victory, coupled with a massive boost to their Net Run Rate, puts Sri Lanka in a fantastic position to move to the next stage of the tournament.

For Bangladesh, it was a day of what-ifs. The brilliant recovery in their batting was let down by an under-par bowling and fielding performance. It was a brutal reminder that in this format, a team must fire on all cylinders to compete against the best. They now face a must-win game against Afghanistan to keep their Asia Cup dreams alive.

Final Scorecard & Key Stats

• Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field.

• Result: Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets.

• Man of the Match: Kamil Mishara (Sri Lanka)

Bangladesh Innings: 139/5 (20 overs)

• Top Batsmen: Shamim Hossain (42 off 34), Jaker Ali (41 off 34)

• Top Bowlers (SL): Wanindu Hasaranga (2-25), Nuwan Thushara (1-17), Dushmantha Chameera (1-17)

Sri Lanka Innings: 140/4 (14.4 overs)

• Top Batsmen: Pathum Nissanka (50 off 34), Kamil Mishara (46* off 32)

• Top Bowlers (BAN): Mahedi Hasan (2-29), Mustafizur Rahman (1-35)

• Key Stat: Sri Lanka chased down 140 with the fewest overs ever for them in a T20I (14.4).