Asalanka: Sri Lanka Must Improve After Nail-Biting Asia Cup Victory

Sri Lanka secured a victory against Hong Kong in their Asia Cup 2025 match, but the win was far from comfortable. Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga were key contributors in Sri Lanka’s successful chase. Nissanka’s innings of 68 runs off 44 balls, despite multiple dropped catches, provided stability. Earlier in the match, Hong Kong had set a target of 149/4, with Anshy Rath and Nizakat Khan leading the charge with scores of 48 and 52 (not out), respectively. Skipper Charith Asalanka, after the match, discussed the team’s performance. He pointed out specific areas of concern, including the bowling in the first three overs and the loss of wickets in the 16th over, including his own. Asalanka recognized that these types of incidents can happen in the shorter format but should not occur repeatedly. He added that the team needs to analyze and improve. He noted the favorable pitch conditions, complimented Hong Kong’s batting, and admitted that the initial bowling effort by Sri Lanka was below par. He concluded that as professionals, they must play better, especially under the pressure of playing against teams like Hong Kong.