Asian Games 2026: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 63 runs to win men's cricket bronze
Synopsis
Sri Lanka were staring at an embarrassing collapse at 21/4 — then Tharindu Ratnayake walked in and hit 65 off 32 to transform the match entirely. Bangladesh never recovered with the bat either, bowled out for 102. Sri Lanka's bronze caps a stellar Asian Games with three medals across javelin, women's cricket, and now men's cricket.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 63 runs to claim the men's cricket bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Nisshin .
Tharindu Ratnayake smashed 65 off 32 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) to rescue Sri Lanka from 21/4 , powering them to 165/9 .
Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 in 17.3 overs , crumbling to 18/4 by the end of the fourth over .
Nuwan Thushara , Wanuja Sahan , and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth each took two wickets in the chase.
The bronze takes Sri Lanka's total Asian Games 2026 medal tally to three , alongside a javelin gold and a women's cricket silver.
Sri Lanka claimed the men's cricket bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Nisshin on 3 October, defeating Bangladesh by 63 runs in a match that swung dramatically after a disastrous start for the island nation. The victory brought Sri Lanka's total medal haul at these Games to three.
Sri Lanka's Remarkable Recovery
Sri Lanka, having won the toss and elected to bat, found themselves in serious peril at 21/4 inside the first five overs as Bangladesh's spinners exploited a surface offering turn and bounce. A total collapse appeared imminent until Sahan Arachchige and Ashen Bandara steadied the ship and set the stage for a stunning counterattack.
The turning point came through Tharindu Ratnayake, who launched a breathtaking assault on the Bangladesh bowling. Ratnayake struck 65 off just 32 balls, laced with seven fours and five sixes, reaching his fifty off just 26 deliveries. With Arachchige contributing a composed 33 off 37 balls, Sri Lanka plundered 114 runs in the final 15 overs after managing just 51/4 at the halfway stage, eventually posting 165/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Mahedi Hasan took 2 for 19 and Saif Hassan claimed 2 for 28 for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's Chase Collapses Immediately
Bangladesh's reply never gathered momentum. Nuwan Thushara set the tone with a wicket-maiden in the very first over, removing Saif Hassan for a duck. Ratnayake then dismissed Tanzid Hasan Tamim, before Thushara pinned Litton Das with a precise yorker — also for a duck. Bangladesh were reduced to a desperate 18/4 by the end of the fourth over.
Towhid Hridoy briefly offered defiance with 11 off six balls before falling to Ratnayake. Sri Lanka's spinners then sealed Bangladesh's fate: Vijayakanth Viyaskanth claimed two wickets in successive deliveries, dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon and Mahedi Hasan, while Wanuja Sahan removed Rishad Hossain and Yasir Ali. Yasir's 21 off 16 and Rishad's 10 off five offered fleeting hope, but the chase never truly revived. Nasum Ahmed top-scored with 26 off 28, but his dismissal in the 18th over ended resistance as Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 in 17.3 overs. Thushara, Sahan, and Viyaskanth each finished with two wickets.
Ratnayake: The Match's Central Figure
Tharindu Ratnayake was unquestionably the player of the match. His explosive 65 with the bat resurrected a seemingly doomed innings, and his early breakthrough with the ball set Bangladesh's chase on a downward spiral from which they never recovered. It was a complete match-winning performance from a single player.
Sri Lanka's Asian Games Medal Tally
The bronze takes Sri Lanka's medal count at the Asian Games 2026 to three. It follows a gold in men's javelin by Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage and a silver won by the women's cricket team. This cricket bronze adds further lustre to what has been a standout Games for the island nation across disciplines.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 165/9 in 20 overs (Tharindu Ratnayake 65, Sahan Arachchige 33; Mahedi Hasan 2-19, Saif Hassan 2-28) beat Bangladesh 102/10 in 17.3 overs (Nasum Ahmed 26; Wanuja Sahan 2-17, Tharindu Ratnayake 2-18, Nuwan Thushara 2-18) by 63 runs.
Point of View
Bangladesh were on course for a decisive psychological statement — instead, Ratnayake's 65 off 32 inverted the narrative entirely. What this match also exposed is Bangladesh's alarming fragility with the bat in knockout pressure: collapsing to 18/4 in four overs against a side that had itself been on the ropes is a damaging pattern that their selectors cannot ignore. For Sri Lanka, three medals across track, field, and cricket signals genuine multi-sport depth, not a one-discipline campaign.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the men's cricket bronze medal at Asian Games 2026?
Sri Lanka won the men's cricket bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Bangladesh by 63 runs in Nisshin on 3 October. It was Sri Lanka's third medal at these Games.
What was the scorecard of the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh bronze medal match?
Sri Lanka posted 165/9 in 20 overs, with Tharindu Ratnayake scoring 65 off 32 and Sahan Arachchige contributing 33 off 37. Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 in 17.3 overs, with Nasum Ahmed top-scoring on 26.
Who was the standout player in the match?
Tharindu Ratnayake was the match's defining performer, smashing 65 off just 32 balls to rescue Sri Lanka from 21/4, before also taking 2 wickets to disrupt Bangladesh's chase early. He effectively won the match with both bat and ball.
How many medals has Sri Lanka won at the Asian Games 2026?
Sri Lanka have won three medals at the Asian Games 2026: a gold in men's javelin by Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, a silver by the women's cricket team, and this bronze by the men's cricket team.
Where was the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket bronze medal match played?
The match was played in Nisshin, the venue hosting cricket events at the Asian Games 2026.
