There it is! Sri Lanka have the win they came for, but boy, did they have to work hard for it! Spare a thought for Hong Kong. They gave it everything, and showed a lot of heart, but in the crucial moments, they just could not hold their nerve enough! This is a half-volley on middle and leg. Hasaranga gets his front foot out of the way and bludgeons it back past the bowler. A crushing blow to end things, but had you walked into this game a few minutes ago, it was a pressure cooker, and one that Sri Lanka will be glad and relieved to have emerged from!
Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka, 8th Match, Group B at Dubai, Asia Cup, Sep 15 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
8th Match, Group B (N), Dubai (DICS), September 15, 2025, Men's T20 Asia Cup
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SL
Full commentary
10:25pm And that will be a wrap for this game. Sri Lanka will be relieved they managed to get through this test and that they overcame this scare, even if their skipper was stern in the assessment of his side's performance. Hong Kong go back with a bagful of memories and lots of learnings, which they will now want to put into practice to become a better side, which they would hope allows them to break their Asia Cup duck the next time it comes around. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. But until next time, from Chandan, Ranjith and myself (Shashwat), it is goodbye. Take care, folks!
Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain: (On what they were feeling during the mini batting collapse) In that moment, I think our heart was in our mouths. Few areas I am really disappointed about. First three overs when we were bowling and then the 16th over, we lost a couple of wickets and then lost my wicket. In the shorter format, these things can happen but it cannot keep happening consistently. We have to analyze it and improve ourselves. (On the score) Felt confident because the pitch was looking good. Credit goes to them, they batted really well and we bowled badly in the first three overs. This is not the way we wanted to play. When we are playing these sides, there is a pressure always. But we are professionals and as professionals, we have to do much better than this.
Yasim Murtaza, Hong Kong captain: I am really proud of the way the boys stood up today, especially in the batting. Nizakat and Anshy, their partnership was crucial. We missed a few chances, but in the end, the way the bowlers and batters (played), very proud of them. (On the score and if it was defendable) We wanted 150-160, so got what we wanted. We dropped a few catches and that cost us the game. The positive thing is that (we are) playing on the big stage, (it) is like a dream come true. We will think on a lot of things (after going back) and work on that.
Pathum Nissanka, the Player of the Match says that it was not an easy pitch. Hong Kong bowled well, but his plan was to drag the innings and he is very happy with the way he is batting.
10:05pm Phew. Finally something resembling a thriller at this Asia Cup. This too was a slow burn. At the half-way stage, it felt Sri Lanka had this under control. Then, Hong Kong applied the powerplay squeeze and asked Sri Lanka questions. Nissanka answered most of them through his stunning 44-ball 68, but once he departed, the Sri Lankan innings descended into a bit of a procession, with several quick wickets.
Thankfully for Sri Lanka, they had a deep batting unit to bank upon. Shanaka held up his end of the bargain and Hasaranga, fresh off an injury, came up clutch with a 9-ball 20. Sri Lanka, it must be added, were helped by Hong Kong's wastefulness in the field, and by a No ball by their skipper in the 18th over. And that will sting Hong Kong the most. They could have made this a truly special evening, but they will go back now with that sinking feeling of what could have and perhaps should have been.
18.5
4
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, FOUR runs
18.4
4
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, FOUR runs
this is an awesome shot under such circumstances! Back of a length just outside off. Hasaranga gives himself room and crunches it between extra cover and mid off!
Sri Lanka a hit away from a win
18.3
2
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, 2 runs
angled in on a length on the pads. Hasaranga helps it round the corner behind square and Shanaka dashes back to the bowler's end (which is where the throw arrives) to complete the second
18.2
2
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, 2 runs
slower ball on a length outside off. Hasaranga has an airy waft at it and skews it off the outside edge past backward point for a brace
18.1
•
Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, no run
hard length just outside off. Skids onto Hasaranga and he is awfully late on the stroke. Scuffs it towards extra cover
Iqbal, who has bowled just two overs, to bowl the 19th. Hasaranga on strike. Keeper up to the stumps. 9 off 12
end of over 1814 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 141/6CRR: 7.83 • RRR: 4.50 • Need 9 runs from 12b
Dasun Shanaka6 (3b 1x4)
Wanindu Hasaranga8 (4b 1x6)
Yasim Murtaza 4-0-37-2
Ehsan Khan 4-0-25-1
17.6
4
Yasim Murtaza to Shanaka, FOUR runs
Shanaka finds the fence too, and the tense faces have now morphed into beaming smiles in the stands! This is a drag-down and rather than committing to the front foot, Shanaka hangs back. He then has all the time in the world to pound this past deep mid wicket, and bring the target down to single digits!
17.5
1
Yasim Murtaza to Hasaranga, 1 run
another miscue, but this does not carry! Murtaza has this on a string again and gets this to sink just outside off. Hasaranga, looking for a swipe, toe-ends it badly but it does not reach long on
17.4
•
Yasim Murtaza to Hasaranga, no run
slower on a length on off. Drops and dips on the batter and Hasaranga has to wait an eternity before jabbing it back to the bowler
17.3
6
Yasim Murtaza to Hasaranga, SIX runs
Hasaranga makes Murtaza and Hong Kong pay, and the Sri Lankan fans come to life in Dubai! Bowling the No ball was bad enough and Murtaza compounds it by dishing out a slot ball outside off. Hasaranga swings through the line and slams it over the bowler's head!
17.3
2nb
Yasim Murtaza to Shanaka, (no ball) 1 run
back of a length outside off. Stops in the surface and Shanaka does well to check his stroke and punch it past the bowler. But oh dear - Murtaza has overstepped. Can you believe it. What a time to bowl a No ball, and Murtaza is the guilty party too!
17.2
1
Yasim Murtaza to Hasaranga, 1 run
pushed in on a length on leg stump. Hasaranga waits on it before helping it towards deep backward square leg
Hasaranga in at 8. Around the wicket
17.1
W
Yasim Murtaza to Kamindu Mendis, OUT
touches the moon and pouched by deep mid wicket! Sri Lanka are unraveling! Floated up outside off and Kamindu's eyes light up. He hares down the track and looks to tonk this into the gulf but Murtaza is such a wily, old fox that he gets this ball to drop on the batter late. Kamindu has to reach out and he shanks it terribly. Hayat settles under the high ball and snares the chance. Hong Kong believe some more now!
Kamindu Mendis c Babar Hayat b Yasim Murtaza 5 (5b 0x4 0x6 3m) SR: 100
Murtaza has one over up his sleeve, and he decides this is the time to play that card. Over the wicket to Kamindu. 23 off 18
Joynul: "Can HK hold onto their nerves? Cheering for them, a BD fan!"
end of over 175 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 127/5CRR: 7.47 • RRR: 7.66 • Need 23 runs from 18b
Kamindu Mendis5 (4b)
Dasun Shanaka1 (1b)
Ehsan Khan 4-0-25-1
Yasim Murtaza 3-0-23-1
16.6
1
Ehsan Khan to Kamindu Mendis, 1 run
back of a length on middle and leg. Kamindu uses the angle and tucks it off his pads towards deep mid wicket
James: "Finally a close game. Hope this one goes till the last ball"
16.5
2
Ehsan Khan to Kamindu Mendis, 2 runs
angled in on a back of a length on off. Kamindu stays leg side of the ball and cracks it past backward point for a couple of runs
16.4
•
Ehsan Khan to Kamindu Mendis, no run
fired in on a length on middle and leg. Stops in the surface and Kamindu has no option but to defend
16.3
2
Ehsan Khan to Kamindu Mendis, 2 runs
flighted up full outside off. Kamindu comes forward and drives it enough to long off's right to open his account with a brace
Kamindu joins Shanaka. SL still have plenty of batting with these two and Hasaranga still in the shed, but the runs still need to be scored. 27 off 23
16.2
W
Ehsan Khan to Asalanka, OUT
slashed straight to short third, and Sri Lanka are properly in strife now! Short and wide outside off. There to be hit but the lack of pace makes this a very difficult shot. Asalanka throws the plumbing at it and slices it straight to Ayush, who for a change, holds on to a chance. Ehsan holds his arms aloft, and Hong Kong might just be believing in this now!
Charith Asalanka c Shukla b Ehsan Khan 2 (5b 0x4 0x6 4m) SR: 40
16.1
•
Ehsan Khan to Asalanka, no run
ripper! Fizzed through on a back of a length on off. The ball grips, straightens and whizzes past the outside edge. Misses off stump by a whisker too!
Ehsan to bowl out. 28 off 24. Around the wicket
end of over 164 runs • 2 wickets
SL: 122/4CRR: 7.62 • RRR: 7.00 • Need 28 runs from 24b
Charith Asalanka2 (3b)
Dasun Shanaka1 (1b)
Yasim Murtaza 3-0-23-1
Ehsan Khan 3-0-20-0
15.6
1
Yasim Murtaza to Asalanka, 1 run
very slow and very full on off stump. Asalanka waits for the ball to drop before bunting it into the mid wicket region
15.5
1
Yasim Murtaza to Shanaka, 1 run
flighted up full outside off. Shanaka gets down on the sweep and paddles it towards deep backward square leg
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SLÂ 100%
HKGSL100%50%100%
Over 19 • SL 153/6
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