Sri Lanka bounced back from their heavy semifinal defeat to India with a 63-run win over Bangladesh to claim the bronze medal in the men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games.Playing at the Aichi Prefectural Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, Sri Lanka were in serious trouble after being asked to bat first, slipping to 24/4 inside five overs.
Ratnayake, Arachchige rescue Sri Lanka
Tharindu Ratnayake produced a sensational counterattack to revive the innings. The lower-order batter smashed 65 off just 32 balls, hitting seven fours and five sixes, while captain Sahan Arachchige provided stability with a composed 33 off 37 deliveries.Their efforts helped Sri Lanka recover from the early collapse and post 165/9 in 20 overs, setting Bangladesh a challenging target on a difficult surface.
Thushara-led attack bowls Bangladesh out
Bangladesh’s chase got off to a disastrous start as Nuwan Thushara struck with the first ball, dismissing Litton Das for a golden duck. Bangladesh slipped to 18/4 and never recovered.Nasum Ahmed (26) and Yasir Ali (21) offered some resistance, but Sri Lanka continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals. Wanuja Sahan, Tharindu Ratnayake, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Nuwan Thushara claimed two wickets apiece as Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 in 17.3 overs.Sri Lanka completed a 63-run victory to secure the bronze medal, with Ratnayake’s all-round performance proving decisive.
