Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka Survive Hong Kong Scare To Secure Super 4 Qualification | Cricket News

Sri Lanka beat Hong Kong, China by 4 wickets [AFP Photo]

Pathum Nissanka made a marvellously paced fifty, but Sri Lanka still faced challenges before securing a four-wicket victory over an impressive Hong Kong in a Group B match of the Asia Cup on Monday.

Nissanka’s knock (68 off 44 balls) demonstrated timely acceleration, and he shared a 57-run partnership with Kusal Perera (20) for the third wicket, pushing Sri Lanka closer to a Super 4 berth.

On a rather sluggish pitch, Sri Lanka began the chase of 150 cautiously, before accelerating after the 10-over mark to end with 153 for six in 18.5 overs.

After losing Kusal Mendis and Kamil Mishara for 65 in the first 10 overs, Sri Lanka regained momentum through Nissanka, who was dropped twice in this innings — on 40 and 60 — by butter-fingered Hong Kong fielders.

Nissanka capitalised on these chances, making runs more with calculation than raw power. He placed his big hits mainly to the square leg region, where the boundary was relatively short, exemplified by a swept six off medium pacer Aizaz Khan.

From 65 in 10 overs, Sri Lanka added 42 runs in the next three overs as Nissanka and Perera got a move on.

However, Hong Kong disrupted Sri Lanka’s progress by taking the quick wickets of Nissanka, Perera, Kamindu Mendis, and skipper Charith Asalanka within eight runs, reducing them from 119 for two to 127 for six.

Sri Lanka managed to score the remaining 23 runs to keep their Super 4 hopes alive in the continental showpiece, with Wanindu Hasaranga making an unbeaten 9-ball 20.

Earlier, seasoned Nizakat Khan made a solid fifty and Anshuman Rath supported him with a sensible knock, as Hong Kong posted a competitive 149 for four.

After being put in to bat, the standout feature of Hong Kong’s innings was a 61-run partnership between Rath (48 off 46 balls) and Nizakat (52 not out off 38 balls) for the third wicket.

The pair played some well-timed shots around the park, never really getting bogged down by the experienced Lankan bowlers.

Rath preferred playing on either side of the square, and his inside-out cover drive off spinner Asalanka was a treat. Meanwhile, Nizakat, who became only the second Hong Kong batter to score a fifty in the T20 version of the Asia Cup, favoured the V in front of the wicket, collecting a couple of fours and a six off leg-spinner Hasaranga over long-on.

The powerful right-hander also had a stroke of luck as he was dropped by a diving stumper Kusal Mendis off pacer Thilan Thushara in the second ball of the 17th over while on 33.

In the fifth ball of the same over, the short third man fielder snapped a fine catch, but Thushara had overstepped, saving the Hong Kong batter.

However, Rath soon gave a simple catch to Kamindu at the deep off pacer Dushmantha Chameera (2/29).

Despite a relatively dull finish, Hong Kong started strongly, making 38 runs in the first four overs, courtesy of some lusty hitting by Zeeshan Ali (23 off 17 balls).

Chameera then had him caught behind by Kusal Mendis to stem the run flow, and Hasaranga soon inflicted another blow on the greenhorns, dismissing Babar Hayat.

Brief Scores:

Hong Kong: 149 for 4 in 20 overs (Nizakat Khan 52 not out, Anshuman Rath 48; Dushmantha Chameera 2/29).

Sri Lanka: 153 for 6 in 18.5 overs (Pathum Nissanka 68; Yasim Murtaza 2/37).

(With PTI Inputs)