Bangladesh’s hopes of securing a bronze medal at the Asian Games ended in a heavy 63-run defeat to Sri Lanka, leaving the men’s cricket team without a medal at the tournament. The result also means Bangladesh will return from the cricket competition empty-handed for the first time at the Asian Games. The women’s team had also failed to win a medal in the current edition. Bangladesh’s only medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has come from wushu, with a bronze.
Bangladesh lost the toss and were asked to bowl first in the bronze-medal match. They made an encouraging start and appeared to have Sri Lanka under severe pressure in the opening overs.
Mehedi Hasan struck twice in the third over, while Aliss Al Islam, making his international debut, claimed his first international wicket. In the same over, Sohan de Livera was run out. Sri Lanka were reduced to 21 for four after 3.5 overs, putting Bangladesh firmly in control of the contest.
Sri Lanka, however, gradually recovered. Arachchige and Bandara put together a crucial partnership, adding 33 runs from 40 balls. Their stand helped Sri Lanka stabilise after the early collapse. Bandara eventually departed for 18 from 24 balls after attempting a sweep against Rishad Hossain and finding a catch.
Sri Lanka reached 51 runs at the end of 10 overs, but the momentum changed dramatically during the final phase of the innings.
The 14th over proved particularly costly for Bangladesh. Mustafizur Rahman conceded 25 runs, with the over also containing a no-ball and wides. He was Bangladesh’s only specialist pace bowler in the match and had also conceded 23 runs in an over against Pakistan in the previous game.
Rishad had initially bowled economically, conceding only nine runs in his first two overs. His final two overs, however, cost 37 runs as Sri Lanka accelerated towards a competitive total.
Tharindu Ratnayake was the chief architect of the late assault. He reached his half-century from just 27 balls and scored 65 from 32 deliveries before being dismissed by Mustafizur, with Rishad taking the catch. His innings contained seven fours and five sixes.
Sri Lanka scored a remarkable 83 runs in the final five overs and finished on 165 for nine from their 20 overs. Mehedi Hasan took two wickets for 19 runs, Saif Hasan claimed two for 28 and Mustafizur finished with two for 43. Rishad took one wicket for 46 runs.
Bangladesh therefore needed 166 runs to win the bronze medal. Their chase, however, unravelled almost immediately.
Saif Hasan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Litton Das all failed to score, leaving Bangladesh in serious trouble at the top of the order. Tawhid Hridoy, who had performed well against Pakistan in the previous match, was expected to provide stability but was dismissed for 11 from six balls.
By 4.2 overs, Bangladesh had slipped to 23 for four.
The situation worsened when Parvez Hossain and Mehedi Hasan were dismissed off successive deliveries, both caught behind. Mehedi appeared unhappy with the umpire’s decision, believing the ball had not made contact with his bat. Bangladesh were then 64 for six, with their hopes of a medal rapidly disappearing.
Yasir Ali scored 21 and Parvez made 20, but neither could build the substantial partnership Bangladesh needed. Rishad Hossain contributed 10 before the innings moved into its final stages.
Nasum Ahmed, batting at No. 9, provided some resistance with 26 from 28 balls. His contribution helped Bangladesh avoid an even wider margin of defeat, but the target remained far beyond reach.
Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 102 in 17.3 overs, falling 63 runs short of Sri Lanka’s total. Thushara, Ratnayake, Viyaskanth and Sahan took two wickets each for Sri Lanka.
The defeat brought Bangladesh’s cricket campaign at the Asian Games to an abrupt end. After making a promising start with the ball and reducing Sri Lanka to 21 for four, Bangladesh were unable to maintain their advantage. Sri Lanka’s recovery in the middle and final overs, followed by Bangladesh’s early batting collapse, ultimately decided the bronze-medal contest.
