Sri Lanka thumped Hong Kong by 4 wickets within the eighth match of the ACC Males’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Chasing a modest 150-run goal, the defending champions finally hit the successful runs for the lack of six wickets and 7 balls to spare regardless of Hong Kong’s spirited comeback.
The defending champions had been comfortably positioned at 119/2 in 15 overs, needing simply 31 off 30 deliveries with set batter Nissanka on the crease.
However the opening batter’s dismissal on the primary supply of the sixteenth over sparked a collapse which noticed Sri Lanka lose three extra wickets in fast succession and consequently slipped to 127/6 in 17.1 overs.
However Wanindu Hasaranga turned the tide again in Sri Lanka’s favour with a blistering cameo, scoring 20 not out from simply 9 deliveries, that includes two fours and a six, and led the holders to their second consecutive victory within the eight-team event.
Captain Yasim Murtaza was the standout bowler for Hong Kong, taking two wickets for 37 runs in his 4 overs, whereas Ayush Shukla, Ehsan Khan and Aizaz Khan made one scalp apiece.
Put into bat first, the affiliate nation registered 149/4 of their allotted 20 overs.
Hong Kong obtained off to an honest begin to their innings as their opening pair of Zeeshan Ali and Rath yielded 41 runs earlier than the previous fell sufferer to Dushmantha Chameera on the penultimate supply of the fifth over.
The wicketkeeper batter scored 23 off 17 deliveries with the assistance of two fours.
Hong Kong misplaced one other wicket 23 balls later when Wanindu Hasaranga obtained Babar Hayat (4) stumped and consequently slipped to 57/2 in 8.4 overs.
Rath was then joined by Nizakat Khan within the center, and the duo bolstered Hong Kong’s complete by placing collectively 61 runs in simply 43 deliveries.
The essential stand culminated within the sixteenth over when Chameera obtained Rath caught at deep mid-wicket. The left-handed batter remained a notable run getter for Hong Kong with 48 off 46 deliveries, laced with 4 boundaries.
Nizakat, however, carried his bat till the top and high scored with an unbeaten 52 off 38 deliveries with the assistance of 4 fours and two sixes.
Chameera was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka, selecting up two wickets for 30 runs in his 4 overs, whereas Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka chipped in with one scalp apiece.
