• Source:JND
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SL vs BAN, Asia Cup 2025: Dasun Shanaka's fifty played a defining role in helping Sri Lanka post 168/7 against Bangladesh in the Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2025, overcoming the challenges posed by Mahedi Hasan's web of turns and variations at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Saturday. 

Shanaka, who was promoted to a position in the batting order today, with his innings of 64 runs, helped Sri Lanka post a solid total of 168 runs.

Sent in to bat first, Sri Lanka made a swift start to the innings as openers Pathum Nissanka (22, 15 balls) and Kusal Mendis added 44 runs in 5 overs.

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But the dismissal of Nissanka, an uppish flick off pacer Taskin Ahmed found Saif Hassan in the deep, changed the course of the match, till Shanka (64 off 37 balls) resurrected them.

Mendis was removed soon, skying left-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan to Saif Hassan near backward square leg as Lanka slipped to 58/2.

Spinner Mahedi and pacer Mustafizur Rahman (3/20), the most prosperous Bangladesh bowler, kept the SL batters in handcuffs with pace-off deliveries and cutters.

Shanka and Charith Asalanka (21) shared a 57-run partnership for the fifth wicket to bail out Sri Lanka. Shanaka used his battering force to send the ball high and far and the way he fetched his fifty was spectacular.

The right-hander, who was dismissed on 38 off Rahman, muscled pacer Shoriful Islam for two consecutive sixes to reach the mark in 30 balls.

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Nasum Ahmed bore the brunt of Shanaka's power as the Sri Lankan batter pummeled him for a boundary, two sixes, with the last a thunderous sweep.

However, the run out of Asalanka concluded that partnership and brought Bangladesh back into the match before Shanaka packed a four and six off Taskin in the last over.

(With PTI Inputs)