Pathum Nissanka crafted a well-paced half-century, but Sri Lanka struggled in the chase before scraping past a spirited Hong Kong side for a four-wicket win in their Group B Asia Cup clash in Dubai on Monday.
Nissanka’s innings of 68 off 44 balls was all about timing acceleration, and as Lanka got closer to a Super 4 spot, he teamed up with Kusal Perera (20) for a 57-run partnership for the third wicket.
Sri Lanka began the chase of 150 cautiously on a very slow surface, but after the 10-over mark they stepped on the pedal to reach 153/6 in 18.5 overs.
Nissanka, who was dropped twice in this innings by butter-fingered Hong Kong fielders while on 40 and 60, gave Sri Lanka their comeback after losing Kusal Mendis and Kamil Mishara for 65 in the first ten overs.
He made runs using more strategy than brute force and a sweeping six off medium pacer Aizaz Khan is an example of how Nissanka positioned his big hits more in the square leg region, where the boundary was comparatively short.
As Nissanka and Perera gained momentum, Sri Lanka added 42 runs in the next three overs after reaching 65 in 10 overs. However, Hong Kong halted Sri Lanka’s momentum by dismissing captain Charith Asalanka, Perera, Kamindu Mendis, and Nissanka in eight runs, dropping them from 119 for two to 127 for six.
Wanindu Hasaranga scored an undefeated 9-ball 20 to help Sri Lanka scrape out the final 23 runs to maintain their Super 4 hopes in the tournament.
Earlier, Hong Kong produced a challenging 149/4 thanks to a good fifty from Seasoned Nizakat Khan and a sane knock from Anshuman Rath.
The highlight of Hong Kong’s innings after being sent into bat was a 61-run partnership for the third wicket between Rath (48, 46 balls) and Nizakat (52 not out, 38b). The two played some well-timed drives around the park and were never really slowed down by the seasoned Lankan bowlers.
Rath’s inside-out cover drive off spinner Charith Asalanka was a delight, and he liked to play on either side of the square.
As he took a couple of fours and a six off leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga over long-on, Nizakat, who became just the second Hong Kong batsman to reach fifty in the Asia Cup’s T20 format, favored the V in front of the wicket.
The strong right-hander also benefited from good fortune, when on 33 he was dropped off bowler Thilan Thushara in the second delivery of the 17th over by diving stumper Kusal Mendis.
The short third man fielder made a beautiful catch in the fifth ball of the same over, but Thushara overstepped this time to save the Hong Kong batter.
But shortly after, Rath gave Kamindu Mendis a straightforward catch at Dushmantha Chameera, a deep-off pacer (2/29).
However, with to some lustful hitting by Zeeshan Ali (23, 17b), Hong Kong sprinted off the start, scoring 38 runs in the first four overs, despite their comparatively lackluster finish.
However, in order to stop the run flow, Chameera had Kusal Mendis catch him behind. Hasaranga then gave the greenhorns another bruise, dismissing Babar Hayat. Nizakat and Rath, however, managed to keep Hong Kong in the running for a total close to 150.
