Sri Lanka Beat Hong Kong by 4 Wickets in Close Asia Cup Match

Asia Cup 2025’s Group B produced another gripping contest as Sri Lanka edged out Hong Kong by 4 wickets with seven balls to spare at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 15, 2025. A turbulent chase, some excellent resistance, and a match-winning knock — Sri Lanka did just enough.

In this article, we cover all the pivotal moments: batting, bowling, dropped chances, and what this result means for both teams going forward.

Match Snapshot: Key Stats and Highlights

First Innings: Hong Kong Put Up a Strong Total

• Hong Kong were sent in to bat. The openers, Zeeshan Aliand Anshuman Rath, laid a solid foundation with 41 runs for the first wicket. Zeeshan Ali scored 23 off 17 balls.

• Rath (48 off 46) and captain Nizakat Khan(52* off 38) built a crucial middle-order partnership to push the score to 149/4.

• Sri Lanka’s bowlers had moments. Dushmantha Chameeratook 2 wickets for 29 runs. Hong Kong batted well in patches but couldn’t accelerate much in the last few overs.

The Chase: Sri Lanka Show Nerves, But Deliver

• Sri Lanka began somewhat cautiously. They lost Kusal Mendis early, and wickets fell at various intervals so they never quite could settle fully.

• Pathum Nissanka played a captain’s knock — 68 off 44 balls — steady, aggressive when needed. He managed to rotate strike, punished loose balls and kept Sri Lanka in control.

• Support came from Kamil Mishara (19 off 18), Kusal Perera (20 off 16) and later Wanindu Hasaranga, who finished it off with a quickfire 20* off 9 balls.

• There was a wobble: at one point Sri Lanka were cruising at ~119/2 but then collapsed to 127/6 — Hong Kong nearly turned the game around. But Sri Lanka held their nerve to close it out.

Player Highlights: Moments That Defined the Match

• Pathum Nissanka – Anchored the chase. His 68 off 44 was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s win.

• Wanindu Hasaranga – The finisher. His 20* off just 9 balls came at a time when Hong Kong were making a fightback. That cameo made the difference.

• Nizakat Khan – Though on the losing side, his unbeaten 52 was top class. Helped Hong Kong post a competitive total and put Sri Lanka under pressure.

• Hong Kong Fielding / Missed Chances – A few dropped catches, some missed opportunities that could have changed momentum.

Match Flow: Turning Points and Timeline

What This Win Means

For Sri Lanka:

• They’ve made a strong start in Group B, keeping their winning momentum.

• But the middle overs exposed vulnerabilities — losing late wickets under pressure. They’ll need to handle collapses better if they want to stay at the top.

• The finishing ability (like Hasaranga’s) gives confidence in tight chases.

For Hong Kong:

• A spirited batting performance shows they haven’t been overawed. They proved they can compete.

• But fielding lapses and missed chances cost them. Better execution in those moments could’ve swung things.

• Still, this gives them belief, even though qualification looks very hard. They need consistency in both batting and bowling.

Coach’s Corner: Thoughts & Reflections

• Sri Lanka’s camp praised Nissanka’s temperament and ability to guide chase. They also admitted they must tighten up when wickets start falling — avoid letting a collapse get momentum.

• Hong Kong’s skipper Yasim Murtaza expressed regret over the dropped chances. He said those moments hurt their chances of an upset.

Final Thoughts

Sri Lanka’s win over Hong Kong was far from comfortable, but that’s what elite sides do — find ways to win when not everything goes smoothly. The match will serve as both a warning and a confidence booster for the defending champions. For Hong Kong, it was a near-miss: proud performance, but with lessons that matter.

Asia Cup Group B now looks more lively, and Sri Lanka move a step closer to the Super Four. Expect even more intensity in the upcoming fixtures.