Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, Super Fours, Match 13th (B1 v B2) - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

So the Bangla Tigers have prowled over the Lankan Lions in this first game of the Super Fours. A tasty little chapter added to this new simmering rivalry that makes the Asia Cup all the more interesting. Over to the mother of all rivalries tomorrow - India vs Pakistan, once again! This is Saurabh Shankar bidding farewell on behalf of Abhinand Raghavendran and Siva!

Litton Das: Before the Asia Cup, we played a couple of series and we batted really well and we chased down comfortably. We all know how dangerous Mustafizur is. It looked like a pretty good wicket to bat on. Mustafizur's 19th over and Taskin's 20th over, they changed the game. It looked like 190 but they kept it down. Taskin bowled a really good (final) over. I know Saif can win games for Bangladesh. We all knew he's going to be a good player in UAE. I know his character and I know how he scores runs. Whenever you chase down like this, you are pumped up for the next game but we have to come again - new day, new team and we have to play our A game.

Charith Asalanka: It was a terrific game. We held our nerves till the end but it wasn't enough. Pleased about our batting a little bit, we could have done better in the last 2 overs. We were 10-15 runs short. Dasun Shanaka batted really well, we pushed him to five and he did a really good job. He hit a big six and the dressing room was happy because it was almost 170, that's the mark we wanted.

Saif Hassan | Player of the Match: The wicket was very good and I tried to time the ball and hold my shape. Litton was helping me and it was easy batting with him. He was supporting a lot, he was making my game easier, he was anticipating quite well and telling what the next ball would be. Very happy to contribute for the team. The preparation was good, we had a good plan against their bowlers. We had a plan against him (Thushara), for the right-handed batsmen, to hold our shape and play straight, that worked a lot.

Stats by Shashikant Singh:

Sri Lanka's 8-match winning streak in the T20 Asia Cup has been ended.

First win in four games for Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in the UAE. And this is their third win in the last four H2H T20Is.

This is just the second win in the last 16 matches for Bangladesh while chasing a 160-plus target. The other instance also came against Sri Lanka at Sylhet in March 2024.

Highest successful chase by BAN in T20Is
215 vs SL, Colombo RPS, 2018
194 vs ZIM, Harare, 2021
169 vs SL, Dubai (DICS), 2025*
166 vs SL, Sylhet, 2024

22:10 Local Time, 18:10 GMT, 23:40 IST: They made it difficult for themselves in the last over but a superb chase by Bangladesh. They deserved to win this. It was set up at the top by Saif Hassan, and then continued by Towhid Hridoy. In between a couple of crucial contributions from Litton and Shamim Hossain took Bangladesh to a fine win. Thushara got Tanzid Tamim in the first over but Saif and Litton counter-attacked in style and made full use of the powerplay. The former with some good hits and then Hridoy took over, he targetted the extra-cover region and unfurled a couple of gorgeous strikes. The 5th bowler was a concern for Sri Lanka and interestingly Asalanka didn't roll his arm over on a surface that helped the spinners. That proved to be costly as Bangladesh attacked them. Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers but did not get the support from the others. Bangladesh start their Super Fours campaign with a win. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff...

Shanaka to Nasum Ahmed, 1 run, direct-hit and Shamim Hossain was gone. Instead Bangladesh win. A short of length delivery outside off, dabbed to gully, the fielder had to hit direct and Shamim had given up, but the throw misses and Bangladesh are home

Nasum Ahmed, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Shanaka to Mahedi Hasan, out Caught by Kusal Mendis!! Surely not. Bangladesh choking again? It's dug in short at Mahedi Hasan, who comes down the track to pull, a faint top-edge and a clear spike on UltraEdge. Not given and Sri Lanka immediately review. The UltraEdge throws up a spike. Shamim Hossain is unhappy at the other end, throws the bat away in disgust. He clearly is not happy with the way things are going. Mahedi Hasan c Kusal Mendis b Shanaka 0(2)

Shanaka to Mahedi Hasan, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Big appeal for a caught behind. Not given. Sri Lanka review. Mahedi already walking off. OUT.

Just a deep backward square-leg the man back. Rest all in. Shanaka continues from round the wicket.

Shanaka to Mahedi Hasan, no run, slower-ball leg-cutter and full outside off, Mahedi Hasan gets forward to drive to mid-off, the field is close-in and there's no run there

Mahedi Hasan, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Shanaka to Jaker Ali, out Bowled!! Jaker Ali wants to end it on a high but misses. A slower-ball leg-cutter and full on off, Jaker gets forward to hoick to leg, misses and the off-stump is found. No celebrations at all from Shanaka or the Sri Lankans. Jaker Ali b Shanaka 9(4) [4s-2]

Shanaka to Jaker Ali, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!