Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, China, 8th Match, Group B, Asia Cup 2025 - CommentarySL vs HKC, 8th Match, Group B, Asia Cup 2025 - Commentary

Hong Kong, China: Asia Cup Report Card

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Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, FOUR, Sri Lanka win. It's a half-volley on middle, Hasaranga gets forward and drills it straight down the ground, the batters don't even bother to run. A fine cameo from Hasaranga and Sri Lanka have done it with 7 balls to spare

Ateeq Iqbal to Hasaranga, FOUR, scores level. A back of a length delivery on off, Hasaranga gets forward and lofts, wide of cover and easily beats mid-off to his left, runs away

Yasim Murtaza to Shanaka, FOUR, Shanaka with a crucial boundary and now Sri Lanka can breathe easier. It's short and slow on off, Shanaka goes on the back foot and thumps the pull, too much power and the ball beats the dive of deep mid-wicket to his left

Yasim Murtaza to Hasaranga, SIX, such a costly no-ball and the free-hit goes for six. It's in the slot and full outside off, Hasaranga gets forward and smashes this straight down the ground and the ball hits the sightscreen. That could be the game-changing moment

Yasim Murtaza to Kamindu Mendis, out Caught by Hayat!! Are Sri Lanka crumbling? It's tossed up full outside off, Kamindu Mendis comes down the track to loft, more height than elevation and it's an easy catch to deep mid-wicket. Yasim Murtaza punches the air as he is pumped. Now the chase gets a bit tense. Kamindu Mendis c Hayat b Yasim Murtaza 5(5)

Ehsan Khan to Asalanka, out Caught by Ayush Shukla!! Now HKC are well and truly back. A flat good length delivery ooo, Asalanka goes on the back foot to cut, the top-edge flies and it's a dolly to short third man. The skipper goes. Asalanka c Ayush Shukla b Ehsan Khan 2(5)

Yasim Murtaza to Kusal Perera, out Lbw!! Two wickets in two balls and HKC are back in this. It's tossed up full on off, Kusal Perera sinks low to sweep, misses, hit on the back leg and the impact is ump's call and the original decision is out. Crashing into the stumps and the long appeal from Yasim Murtaza works, the ump raises the finger and that's two in two for HKC. Two set batters gone and HKC can believe again. KJP takes the review and does not get away with it. Kusal Perera lbw b Yasim Murtaza 20(16) [4s-1 6s-1]

Yasim Murtaza to Kusal Perera, out Nissanka Run Out!! 1 run completed. Slight confusion between the two and even a desperate dive is not enough for Nissanka. Turned to the vacant mid-wicket area, Yasim Murtaza gives chase, slides and stops it, Kusal Perera always wanted the 2nd, Nissanka was not so sure, the throw is right next to the stumps and the fielder does the rest. But is that a little too late for HKC? Nissanka run out (Yasim Murtaza/Nizakat Khan) 68(44) [4s-6 6s-2]

Ehsan Khan to Kusal Perera, SIX, there comes the reverse-sweep and it's all the way over third man for six. It's tossed up full on off, he gets into position and knows there's no-one back there, hit that in the air deliberately

Aizaz Khan to Nissanka, FOUR, another drop and this time from deep mid-wicket. A slower-ball off-cutter full outside off, Nissanka gets forward to heave and Shahid at deep mid-wicket goes with hard hands and it bounces out of his grasp and falls just before the cushions. Was a catch that should have been taken, to add insult to injury, it goes to four

Aizaz Khan to Nissanka, FOUR, full on middle and leg, Nissanka knows short fine is inside, flicks it over that man and it's one bounce over the ropes

Aizaz Khan to Kusal Perera, FOUR, now Kusal Perera gets into the act. On a length outside off, Kusal Perera gets forward and powers it straight down the ground for four

Ayush Shukla to Nissanka, FOUR, similar shot and a similar result. A short of length delivery and seam-up just outside off, Nissanka goes on the back foot and pulls hard, again perfect placement as it splits deep square-leg and deep mid-wicket, ends the over on a high

Ayush Shukla to Nissanka, FOUR, slower-ball off-cutter outside off, short and Nissanka goes on the back foot to pull, between deep square-leg and deep mid-wicket, right into the gap. He is the one who is giving Sri Lanka the momentum

Aizaz Khan to Nissanka, SIX, Nissanka with a six to the deep backward square-leg fence. Length delivery on middle, he gets forward and swings it to the shorter side and it's all the way

Ehsan Khan to Nissanka, FOUR, poor delivery and four. Sliding down leg, deep backward square-leg is free and Nissanka sweeps it there, Ehsan Khan is not happy

Cricbuzz Comm Box: Asia Cup 2025 | SL v HKC, 2nd innings

Aizaz Khan to Kamil Mishara, out Caught by Hayat!! The slower short ball works. It's into the pitch and outside off, Kamil Mishara has to drag the pull and doesn't get on top of it, Hayat comes in from deep mid-wicket and takes it. HKC can now aim to put more pressure after that wicket. Time for drinks as well. Kamil Mishara c Hayat b Aizaz Khan 19(18) [4s-1 6s-1]

Kinchit Shah to Kamil Mishara, FOUR, smashed wide of extra-cover. That's full outside off, Kamil Mishara gets forward to drive it hard and beats the extra-cover's dive to his left, races away

Yasim Murtaza to Kamil Mishara, SIX, that should ease the pressure. It was building and Kamil Mishara releases it. It's tossed up full on leg-stump, Mishara gets forward and lofts high and clean over wide long-on

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Ayush Shukla to Kusal Mendis, out Caught by Anshuman Rath!! Expensive over but it ends with a wicket. Seam-up and pace-on this time, hurries Kusal Mendis on the pull, the short ball, takes the top-edge and Rath judges the high catch well at deep mid-wicket. He goes reverse-cup and takes it. Ayush Shukla is pumped. Kusal Mendis c Anshuman Rath b Ayush Shukla 11(14) [4s-2]

Ayush Shukla to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, slower-ball off-cutter and Kusal Mendis picks it, it's too full around off, Kusal Mendis gets forward and swings this over mid-on, hit that cleanly

Ayush Shukla to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, superb swat of the wrists. A slower-ball full on middle, Kusal Mendis flicks and sends it to the deep backward square-leg fence, the fielder was at deep square-leg

Ayush Shukla to Nissanka, SIX, short of length on off, Nissanka goes on the back foot and picks the bones out of that, sends the pull flying over deep square-leg, breaks the shackles

Yasim Murtaza to Nissanka, FOUR, nicely tossed up full and lot slower outside off, Nissanka gets forward and lofts, did not get all of it, but mid-on was inside and it bounces away for four

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Chameera to Nizakat Khan, SIX, much needed hit! They hadn't got one for a couple of overs. Chameera misses the yorker and this time Nizakat cashes in, not much of a followthrough on the lofted shot but the ball clears long-off comfortably

Shanaka to Yasim Murtaza, out Caught by Chameera!! Unlucky! Murtaza middled that but hits it straight to Chameera. This was not a wicket-taking delivery - short and wide outside off, Murtaza slashes it hard and flat to deep backward point, Chameera comes in a few yards and takes a good catch. Yasim Murtaza c Chameera b Shanaka 5(4) [4s-1]

Nuwan Thushara to Yasim Murtaza, FOUR, Murtaza ensures it is a good over. Thushara loses his line and strays onto the pads, Murtaza picks it off the pads and sends it over backward square, one bounce and over the ropes

Chameera to Anshuman Rath, out Caught by Kamindu Mendis!! Oh no! Rath falls two short of his fifty. The partnership is broken. Nizakat pats Rath on the helmet as he walks past him. Slower leg-cutter and it is short of length, Rath middles the pull but hits it flat and straight to deep mid-wicket. Kamindu barely had to move as clings on using his body. A good knock comes to an end. Anshuman Rath c Kamindu Mendis b Chameera 48(46) [4s-4]

Chameera to Nizakat Khan, FOUR, shot! 139.3ks back of a length delivery, Nizakat makes room and gets enough space to free his hands, forces it straight of mid-off and the ball races away

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Hasaranga to Anshuman Rath, FOUR, fabulous shot! Rath has played this inside out shot really well today. Tossed up around off, he stays leg-side of the ball and drives it through extra cover. The long-off fielder does not even bother to chase it

Theekshana to Nizakat Khan, FOUR, 105ks short and outside off, Nizakat carves the cut behind square on the off-side and the sweeper is beaten

Nuwan Thushara to Nizakat Khan, FOUR, shot! He found the fielder last time but not now. Another full toss outside off, Nizakat reaches with an open bat face and slices it behind square. There was a deep backward point but he was beaten comfortably

Asalanka to Nizakat Khan, FOUR, runs starting to flow again.. Definite shift in gear. Nizakat shimmies down and gives himself room, lofts it back over Asalanka and the long-on fielder (Mishara) dives over the ball

Asalanka to Anshuman Rath, FOUR, lovely shot! 93ks fired it full on off, Rath makes room and lofts it inside out over extra cover

Hasaranga to Nizakat Khan, SIX, that's more like it. There must have been a message during the drinks break. Nizakat comes down the track, does not get to the pitch but uses his long reach to loft it over long-on

Cricbuzz Comm Box: Asia Cup 2025 | SL v HKC, 1st innings

Hasaranga to Hayat, out Stumped!! Kusal Mendis does beat Hayat. Googly which is well flighted and Hayat comes down the track, does not pick the wrong 'un and misses the loft down the ground, the ball beats the inside edge and bounces in front of Mendis which is what makes it tough for him to glove it on the first attempt, but he reacts quickly and lights up the stumps. Hayat tried to get back in but is short of the crease. Hayat st Kusal Mendis b Hasaranga 4(10)

Hasaranga to Hayat, out Stumped!! Kusal Mendis does beat Hayat. Googly which is well flighted and Hayat comes down the track, does not pick the wrong 'un and misses the loft down the ground, the ball beats the inside edge and bounces in front of Mendis which is what makes it tough for him to glove it on the first attempt, but he reacts quickly and lights up the stumps. Hayat tried to get back in but is short of the crease. Hayat st Kusal Mendis b Hasaranga 4(10)

Hasaranga to Anshuman Rath, FOUR, Hasaranga starts with a long hop and Rath latches on, rocks back and hammers the pull to deep square leg. He really muscled that and didn't give the fielders in the deep any chance

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Chameera to Zeeshan Ali, out Caught by Kusal Mendis!! Finally a wicket. This was turning into a frustrating start for Sri Lanka. HKC openers rode their luck and got off to a good start but this over from Chameera has been excellent. 138.2ks short of length and he gets it to climb, Zeeshan Ali is half-hearted with the pull and the top-edge goes straight up, Mendis barely had to move as he settles under the catch. Zeeshan Ali c Kusal Mendis b Chameera 23(17) [4s-2]

Nuwan Thushara to Zeeshan Ali, FOUR, runs are flowing.. Thushara attacks the stumps but the line is too straight, Zeeshan Ali prods forward and whips it backward of square leg. No stopping that

Chameera to Anshuman Rath, FOUR, shot! First real shot of convinction. Full pitcher outside off, Rath leans into the drive and creams it square on the off-side, beats cover-point and the ball races away

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Asia Cup: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, China: Preview