**Asia Cup 2025: Dasun Shanaka’s Unbeaten 64 Powers Sri Lanka Against Bangladesh**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 20, 2025, 10:25 PM*
In the highly anticipated Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash held in Dubai, Dasun Shanaka played a crucial role in steering Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 168/7 against Bangladesh. Shanaka’s unbeaten 64 off just 37 balls, featuring three boundaries and six towering sixes, marked his first half-century in over two-and-a-half years.
**Match Progression**
Sri Lanka started briskly with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis putting together a solid 44-run partnership within the first five overs. However, the innings suffered setbacks as Nissanka was dismissed by Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed. Mendis soon followed, caught near backward square leg off left-arm spinner Mahedi Hasan’s bowling.
**Shanaka’s Explosive Knock Revives Sri Lanka**
Following a middle-order collapse, Shanaka joined Charith Asalanka, who contributed 21 runs, to build a vital 57-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Shanaka reached his fifty in just 30 balls, delighting fans by smashing two consecutive sixes off pacer Shoriful Islam. He further attacked left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed, hitting a four and two sixes to push Sri Lanka forward.
**Statistical Highlights**
– This unbeaten 64* was Shanaka’s 20th fifty-plus score in T20 cricket and his 6th in T20 Internationals.
– With this knock, Shanaka has accumulated 1,601 runs from 112 T20 matches (101 innings) at an average of 20.52.
– He has now hit 80 T20I sixes for Sri Lanka.
– Against Bangladesh, Shanaka boasts 294 runs from 16 matches at an impressive average of 36.75, with this being his maiden half-century versus them.
– Overall in T20 cricket, across all formats, Shanaka has amassed 4,671 runs at an average of 26.38 from 257 games (233 innings), including 17 fifties and 3 hundreds.
Dasun Shanaka’s masterful innings proved vital for Sri Lanka’s strong finish, keeping their hopes alive in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/dasun-shanaka-shines-versus-bangladesh-in-asia-cup/story
