Sri Lanka has snatched a dramatic last-ball triumph against Bangladesh in the Super 4 phase of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a match that has had the cricketing fans glued to their seats.
The game, which was a high-stakes confrontation between two South Asian giants, was played in the scorching desert sun, and it made the Emirates a pot of pure emotions and without relenting drama. As both sides contested the position in the semi-final, the bowlers and batters of Sri Lanka gave a masterclass performance on how to withstand a small total and make their unbeaten streak continue.
Pre-Match Buzz: Contest Revived in the Desert Heat
The run-up to this confrontation was palpable, and the Sky lines of Dubai were buzzing with expectations. The Asia Cup 2025, which was taking place in the UAE, has already given some everlasting experiences, yet this event was going to be fireworks. Sri Lanka came into the match with the highest score in the Super 4 points table as their balanced team of youth and experience proved to be smooth sailing.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, had the intention of getting even with India due to a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of India in the last round, which made them vent their anger through aggression. The Colombo fans all the way to Chittagong swamped the social media with memes, predictions, and throwback videos of previous experiences.
The time of the match – 2 PM local start – guaranteed the full attendance of the stands with expatriate communities making the stadium a sea of green and blue flags. There was a lot of security surrounding, but the atmosphere was festive with the vendors outside selling team jerseys and spiced chai to recover from the heat of 38 degrees Celsius.
On the flip of the coin, the head was called by Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was always used to bowl first, and he won on a pitch where there was an early movement of the seam. It was the dew factor that any second-innings batsman in Dubai finds beneficial, which prompted Shanto to declare that “we want to chase under these lights” in the pre-game huddle.
The Batting Rollercoaster: Crisis to Victory in Sri Lanka
The innings of Sri Lanka started optimistically with the openers, Pathum Nissanka, and Kusal Mendis hitting fluency boundaries. The most prolific run-scorer in the tournament thus far, Nissanka, was imperious, chopping holes through with his famous cover drives. The two scored 78 runs in only 10 overs, which strained the young pace attack of Bangladesh.
This was all changed with the introduction of Mustafizur Rahman. The left-armer, who returned to his slinging best after a slight injury alarm, destroyed the first order. Mendis poked out to deep midwicket with a slower cutter, and Nissanka would be doing the same, poking out a seaming delivery at the slips. Within no time, Sri Lanka had fallen to 78/0 and was at 92/4, its skipper, Shanaka, at the crease with a bruised ego and a scoreline of crumpled paper.
A rough rescue attempt followed this. Shanaka, who had soared up the order, opened the second innings with a counter-attacking 45 on 42 balls, also nurdling singles as well as lofting them up in the air.
The leg-spin genius Wanindu Hasaranga was also with him to share an essential 62-run partnership that calmed nerves. The 38 scored by Hasaranga, with its dashing ramps and switches, was a reference to his universal ability that everyone should not forget as to why he is the ICC Rising Star.
Bangladesh regained its lost ground in the middle overs with the spin duo of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan slogging the brakes. The evergreen all-rounder, Shakib, took 2/28, his little changes throwing Charith Asalanka off his feet into a desperate sweep. But Sri Lanka managed to cling to 214/7 in 40 overs – a score that appeared to be below par but had a snake in a slowing track.
Key Batting Highlights:
- Pathum Nissanka: 35 off 42 – Classy beginning, ruined by swing.
- Dasun Shanaka: 45 off 42 – with four fours and a six, Captain knocking.
- Wanindu Hasaranga: 38 off 24 – Two ramps on the boundaries as well as innovative strokes.
- Doldest moment: 92/4 end of 18 overs – A collapse caused by the magic of Mustafizur.
The Chase, Bangladesh: Fireworks Pop in Exasperation
It was never going to be an easy task to pursue 215 in the evening dew of Dubai, but Bangladesh began like a house on fire. Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan struck fifty/fifty in the power play, and the pull shots by Das sound like thunderclaps.
The young opener Tanzid broke three boundaries, one after another, against Chamika Karunaratne, with intention. The necessary mark dropped to less than si,x, and a murmur of a soft victory spread throughout the Bangladeshi bloc.
Enter Maheesh Theekshana. In the eighth over, the mystery spinner met twice with his wizardry with his carrom ball. Tanzid read a straighter one wrongly and was lbw 28, and Das came behind, stumped off a ripping googly 32. The next moment, 50/0 turned to 68/2, and everything followed.
Shakib Al Hasan entered at No. 4, and the greetings of the green-shirted loyalists were deafening. The veteran evened the ship, striking in partnership with Towhid Hridoy in 45. Shakib 52 off 48 was of old-fashioned – watchful defence with sharp drive – but Hridoy, with a direct strike of the mid-off, 22, was a body blow. Third-umpire call controversies were sparked by replay footage of Hridoy being short by a frame.
When nearer the pursuit came, Shanaka resorted to the leg-spin of Hasaranga. The 27-year-old displayed his T20I best of 4/25 by bamboozling Najmul Hossain Shanto with a wrong’un that turned back to viciously attack him. Shanto had flunked eighteen, and his high shot flew to cover. Mehidy Hasan Miraz struggled manfully, 29 to 1, yet Hasaranga himself, with variations, flippers and toppers, brought him to groping at shadows.
The last few plays were a nail-biter. Bangladesh had 18 to go, and Mustafizur Rahman was at the crease and Taskin Ahmed with him. Matheesha Pathirana, the miserly quickster, threw a dot to Mustafizur, followed by a wide, relieving the strain.
Taskin broke a six on long-on to 7 off 3. But Pathirana stood his ground: a yorker to Taskin (caught at deep square 12), a full toss which Mustafizur could only deflect to third man (run out in the confusion 8) and a last ball, which Rishad Hossain could not get away with.
Sri Lanka won by two runs. There was pandemonium – the players ran around Pathirana, the fans ran on the pitch.
Standout Bowling Spells:
- Wanindu Hasaranga: 4/25 in 8 overs – Spin Magic, decimating the middle order.
- Maheesh Theekshana: 2/32 – Guile with early breakthrough.
- Matheesha Pathirana: 2/38, which features the match-winning yorker – Death-over heroics.
- Turning point: Two-wicket score of 4 Hasaranga – Two wickets.
Head-to-Head Stats: A Table of Intense Rivalries
Tournament Year Venue Winner Margin Key Performer 2023 Colombo Sri Lanka 5 wickets Charith Asalanka (106) 2022 Dubai Sri Lanka 3 wickets Kusal Mendis (60) 2018 Abu Dhabi Bangladesh 137 runs Mushfiqur Rahim (144) 2016 Dhaka Bangladesh 73 runs Sabbir Rahman (80) 2014 Fatullah Sri Lanka 392 runs Angelo Mathews (3/20) Overall (Asia Cup) - Sri Lanka 5-2 - Average 1st innings: 245
The table highlights the dominance of Sri Lanka in the conditions in the UAE, where they have won three out of the last four.
Post-Match Reactions: Joy, Jubilation and Jabs
Shanaka was also passionate in the presser: “This team really has a bigger heart than any scoreline. Hasaranga-Pathirana – they are our X-factors.” Hasaranga, who was declared as the Player of the Match, attributed the coaching staff: “We trained those death cases indefinitely. The dew in Dubai makes it hard, but faith wins matches.”
The Shanto of Bangladesh had a heart-rending look about him: “We had it in the bag at 150/3, and cost us catches. To their credit, Sri Lanka they are going to be the favourite now.” Shakib, who is a philosopher, replied, “Cricket makes you humble. Against Pakistan, we’ll strike back.”
The social media went on a blowout after the match. The hashtag #SLvBAN was used worldwide, and the memes of the yorker of Pathirana were dubbed into The Dubai Dagger. Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated them on Twitter, and the fans of Bangladesh also celebrated with the hashtag #TigerSpirit, promising to avenge in the semis.
Implication to the Tournaments: Super 4 Shake-Up
This will see Sri Lanka sail to the semi-finals, should they sail through their last group match with Pakistan. Bangladesh, which has been put on its deathbed, has no other option but to beat India convincingly to survive. Asia Cup 2025, with its hybrid format combining ODIs and T20 flair, has raised the stakes – the winner of the Asia Cup 2025 receives direct qualification benefits to the 2026 World Cup.
In the case of Sri Lanka, it is the payback on the heartbreak of last year. The depth of their squad – the consistency of Nissanka, the spin of Theekshana- makes them dark horses. However, Bangladesh has firepower in Das and Shakib; a win in this case would have been theirs.
When the sun started to lower itself behind the glittering towers of Dubai, the lights on the stadium came on, and the rivalry was not yet finished. The Super 4 stage continues, and India vs Pakistan is coming up as one more blockbuster. Sri Lanka is enjoying the nectar of survival, their fans yearning for another Asian crown.
What is to Come: Future Fixtures and Fantasy Tips
The calendar of the Asia Cup is getting hot:
- September 21: India vs Afghanistan, Sharjah.
- September 22: Bangladesh vs Pakistan, Abu Dhabi.
- September 23: Sri Lanka vs India, Dubai (semi-final possibility).
Fantasy Tips: Assemble your teams with Fantasy players; Hasaranga (all-round points galore) and Pathirana (death-over differential). It is not advisable to put too much faith in Bangladesh’s top order, as it is volatile.
In the great weave of Asian cricket, this type of Super 4 game is one of the reasons why the sport is so popular among millions of people. Dubai, you have done it once again – a classic to be re-enacted years on. Keep watching because it is the fight for supremacy.