The Young player Matheesha Pathirana had scalped four wickets in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh on August 31, 2023, becoming Sri Lanka’s youngest bowler to have a four-wicket haul in ODI.
Youngest Sri Lankan Bowler to pick 4 wickets in ODIs
The inaugural match of the Asia Cup between Pakistan and Nepal concluded with the victory of Pakistan with a 238-run difference at Multan.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are scheduled to play in the second match of the continental event at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Choosing to bat first, Tanzid Hasan was sent out with a duck by Theekshana on the second over. With 4/1 figures, Shanto had come to the rescue for the team as he scored 89 runs and backed the team in the scoreboard. The Bangladesh batter faced troubles with Sri Lanka bowlers.
The 20-year-old pacer Matheesha Pathirana and spinner Maheesh Theekshana were impressive as they had a crucial role in folding Bangladesh with 164 runs in the 43rd over of their innings at Kandy. Dhananjaya de Silva dismissed Mohammad Naim with 16 runs. At the end of the power play, Bangladesh had figures of 34/2.
Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed by Matheesha after he was caught by wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis. With Bangladesh in trouble, Towhid Hridoy joined with Shanto and increased the score steadily.
But their partnership was broken at 59 as Dasun Shanaka dismissed Hridoy with 20 runs. Bangladesh scored a 100-run mark in 25.4 overs. Pathirana continued to trouble Bangladesh batters and dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for 13 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was sent to the pavilion on run out with 5 runs by Dhananjaya de Silva and Kasun Rajitha.
Bangladesh reached 150 runs in 38.3 overs. There was fall of wickets in regular intervals helped Sri Lanka to fold the visitors. Dunith Wellage was dismissed by Mahedi Hasan for 6 runs and Bangladesh was 162/7 in 40.5 overs. And by the end, Bangladesh was all out with 164 runs in 42.4 overs.
On folding Bangladesh with low scores, Sri Lanka will start their innings with a target of 165 runs.
Pathirana had a four-wicket haul in the match and surpassed Chaminda Vaas to become the Sri Lanka’s youngest bowler to take four-wicket haul. Chaminda had a four-wicket haul for 4/20 during their match against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1994.
When he was asked about his four-wicket haul record, he said, “Last I played ODIs in Qualifiers. Took some experience and came here. The wicket was pretty dead in the first half. That’s why I tried slower balls and other things. Very difficult to adjust to ODIs so soon after T20s. But I will manage it.”
The third match of the Asia Cup will be featuring the highly anticipated IND-PAK clash on September 2, Saturday at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.
