Asia Cup: Pathirana feels slower balls helped Lanka earn wickets in death overs

Sri Lanka`s Matheesha Pathirana bowls during the Asia Cup 2023 one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Pic/AFP

Following his side's win over Bangladesh in their Asia Cup match, Sri Lanka's young pacer Matheesha Pathirana said that slower balls, that he utilised a lot in T20s, proved to be really important and helped him get wicket in death overs.

Half-centuries by Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama guided Sri Lanka to a hard-fought five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Asia Cup 2023 campaign opener at Kandy on Thursday.

"This is my first man of the match title for my country, so really happy about it (Feeling of getting POTM in an ODI). (T20 skills in ODIs) Slower balls are important, that is why I took wickets in the death. Useful skill from T20s to fifty overs. My bowling is different so a little unpredictable," said Matheesha in a post-match presentation.

Also Read: Asia Cup: Shanto is Bangladesh's shining star!

Electing to bat first, Bangladesh sunk to 36/3 in 10.4 overs. A 59-run partnership between Najmul Shanto and Towhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh gain temporary relief.

However, the game changed after Matheesha Pathirana dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, reducing Bangladesh to 127/5. From then on, nobody except Shanto (89 in 122 balls, with seven fours) put up a fight and Bangladesh was bundled out for 164 in 42.4 overs.

Pathirana was the pick of the bowlers for SL, taking 4/32 in 7.4 overs. Maheesh Theekshana took 2/19 in his eight overs. Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalege, and skipper Dasun Shanaka took a wicket each.

In the chase of 165, SL lost two quick wickets in the form of their openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka and were reduced to 15/2. After a brief partnership between Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, SL was given another jolt as Mendis was dismissed by Shakib. SL was 43/3.

Then a 78-run stand between Sadeera (54 in 77 balls with six fours) and Charith Asalanka helped SL to three figures and brought them to the brink of a win. Two more wickets put the defending champions under a slight threat, but Asalanka (62' in 92 balls, with five fours and a six) and Shanaka (14') guided them to a five-wicket win.

Shakib al Hasan was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/29 in his 10 overs. Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mehadi Hasan took a wicket each.

Pathirana bagged the 'Player of the Match' award for his match-winning spell.

(With ANI inputs)