Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong – Asia Cup 2025 Match Highlights
Sri Lanka survive Hong Kong scare in thriller, win by 4 wickets. Nissanka's 68 and Hasaranga's late blitz secure victory in Asia Cup 2025 Group B clash.
Match Summary
Match: 8th Match, Group B, Asia Cup 2025
Date: Monday, September 15, 2025
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first
Result: Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)
Hong Kong Innings: 149/4 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeeshan Ali (wk) | 23 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 127.78 |
| Anshuman Rath | 48 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 104.35 |
| Babar Hayat | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Nizakat Khan* | 52 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 136.84 |
| Yasim Murtaza (c) | 8* | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.89 |
| Shahid Wasif | 3* | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
Extras: 11 (lb 4, w 7)
Total: 149/4 (20 overs)
Fall of Wickets:
- Zeeshan Ali – 38/1 (4.2 ov)
- Babar Hayat – 57/2 (8.4 ov)
- Anshuman Rath – 118/3 (15.5 ov)
Sri Lanka Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.25 |
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Charith Asalanka | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |
Sri Lanka Innings: 153/6 (18.5 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 68 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 154.55 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | 11 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 78.57 |
| Kamil Mishara | 19 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Kusal Perera | 20 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Charith Asalanka (c) | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 8* | 10 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga* | 20 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 222.22 |
Extras: 0
Total: 153/6 (18.5 overs)
Fall of Wickets:
- Kusal Mendis – 26/1 (3.6 ov)
- Kamil Mishara – 62/2 (9.3 ov)
- Pathum Nissanka – 119/3 (15.1 ov)
- Kusal Perera – 119/4 (15.2 ov)
- Charith Asalanka – 122/5 (16.2 ov)
- Kamindu Mendis – 127/6 (17.1 ov)
Hong Kong Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ateeq Iqbal | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 |
| Ayush Shukla | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Ehsan Khan | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 |
| Yasim Murtaza | 3.5 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 9.65 |
| Aizaz Khan | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Kinchit Shah | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 5.50 |
Match Highlights
Hong Kong’s Spirited Performance
Hong Kong posted a competitive 149/4 after being put in to bat first. Nizakat Khan was the star performer, scoring an unbeaten 52 off 38 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. This was his first T20I fifty against a Full Member nation and made him the second Hong Kong player after Babar Hayat to score a fifty in the Asia Cup.
Anshuman Rath provided excellent support with 48 off 46 balls, falling just two runs short of his half-century. The pair added a crucial 61-run partnership for the third wicket that helped Hong Kong reach a defendable total.
Sri Lanka’s Nervous Chase
Chasing 150, Sri Lanka got off to a steady start but never truly dominated any phase of the innings. Pathum Nissanka anchored the chase with a brilliant 68 off 44 balls, but was dropped three times during his innings – a costly mistake by Hong Kong.
The match turned dramatic in the final overs when Sri Lanka collapsed from 119/2 to 127/6, losing 4 wickets for just 8 runs. Hong Kong suddenly had a real chance of pulling off a massive upset.
Hasaranga’s Match-Winning Cameo
With Sri Lanka in trouble at 127/6, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped up with a crucial cameo of 20 off just 9 balls*. The turning point came in the 18th over when Hong Kong captain Yasim Murtaza bowled a no-ball, which Hasaranga dispatched for a six over the bowler’s head.
Hasaranga finished the match in style with a boundary, sealing a 4-wicket victory with 7 balls to spare.
Key Moments
- Hong Kong’s Strong Start: Zeeshan Ali (23) and the opening partnership of 38 runs gave Hong Kong early momentum
- Rath-Nizakat Partnership: The 61-run stand between Rath (48) and Nizakat (52*) was crucial in setting up Hong Kong’s total
- Nissanka’s Resilience: Despite being dropped three times, Nissanka’s 68 kept Sri Lanka in the hunt
- The Collapse: Sri Lanka’s middle-order collapse from 119/2 to 127/6 gave Hong Kong hope
- The No-Ball Moment: Murtaza’s no-ball in the 18th over, followed by Hasaranga’s six, proved to be the decisive moment
- Hasaranga’s Finish: The all-rounder’s unbeaten 20 off 9 balls with 2 fours and 1 six sealed the victory
Player Performances
Player of the Match: Pathum Nissanka
Nissanka’s 68 off 44 balls was the foundation of Sri Lanka’s chase. Despite the dropped catches, he played another efficient innings, finding boundaries before the pressure built and ensuring Sri Lanka kept ticking even as his partners struggled.
Hong Kong Heroes:
- Nizakat Khan: 52* (38) – First fifty against a Full Member
- Anshuman Rath: 48 (46) – Solid anchor role
- Yasim Murtaza: 2/37 – Best bowling figures
Sri Lanka Contributors:
- Dushmantha Chameera: 2/29 – Best bowling performance
- Wanindu Hasaranga: 20* (9) + 1/27 – Match-winning all-round show
Tournament Implications
Sri Lanka: This victory gives them 2 wins from 2 matches in Group B, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the Super Four stage. They will face Afghanistan in their final group match, which could be a virtual knockout game.
Hong Kong: With this defeat, Hong Kong finished their Asia Cup campaign with 3 losses from 3 matches. Despite not winning a game, they showed tremendous heart and nearly pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Captain’s Comments
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): “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.”
The Sri Lankan captain was critical of his team’s performance despite the victory, highlighting areas that need improvement as the tournament progresses.
Match Statistics
- Highest Partnership: 61 runs (Rath & Nizakat for Hong Kong)
- Best Bowling Figures: Dushmantha Chameera 2/29
- Most Sixes: Nizakat Khan (2)
- Dropped Catches: 5 (3 by Hong Kong, 2 by Sri Lanka)
- Attendance: Capacity crowd at Dubai International Stadium
This thrilling encounter showcased the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, with Hong Kong proving that on their day, they can compete with the best teams in Asia. Sri Lanka will be relieved to escape with a victory but will need to address their middle-order fragility ahead of tougher challenges.
