Bangladesh encountered a resounding six-wicket defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in their inaugural match of the Asia Cup on Thursday in Kandy.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh crumbled to 164 runs for the loss of all wickets in 42.4 overs. 

In response, Sri Lanka adeptly chased down the target with six wickets to spare in 39 overs. 

While Bangladesh displayed commendable fielding, their meager total proved insufficient to mount a formidable challenge against the hosts.

Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan, in a post match briefing attributed the defeat to the batting line-up, squarely placing the responsibility on the shoulders of the batters.

"While it wasn't a wicket that promised 300 runs, we needed a minimum of 220-230 runs on the board to give them a formidable fight," he said. "The bowlers performed admirably, but our runs were inadequate."

Matheesha Pathirana emerged as the chief tormentor, clinching four wickets as Bangladesh chose to bat first. Collaborating with fellow bowlers, he made it an arduous task for Bangladesh to maintain a steady scoring pace.

Najmul Hossain Shanto stood out as the sole Bangladeshi batter who demonstrated resilience in the middle. He managed to compile 89 runs off 122 deliveries. However, his teammates failed to provide meaningful support.

Debutant opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim faced a swift reality check with a two-ball duck, while Mohammad Naim, the other opener, struggled to surmount the initial hurdle. 

Najmul's arrival at the crease, batting at number three, aimed to anchor one end. Yet, from the other end, the batters arrived and departed hastily, leaving a trail of disappointment in the dressing room.

Shakib’s contribution remained limited to five runs, and though Mushfiqur Rahim and Towhid Hridoy reached double-digit scores, they faltered to sustain their innings. Ultimately, Bangladesh stumbled, tallying a meager 164 runs.

In response, Sri Lanka encountered an early setback, losing two quick wickets to Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam's well-timed breakthroughs. However, this did not deter their journey towards victory.

Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis were swiftly dismissed after scoring 1 and 5 runs respectively. Nevertheless, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka both notched half-centuries, leaving Bangladesh frustrated.

Shakib secured two wickets, while Taskin, Shoriful Islam, and Mahedi Hasan each claimed one wicket.

The victory marked Sri Lanka's 11th consecutive win in ODIs, in stark contrast to Bangladesh's third defeat in their last six matches.

Samarawickrama, who hit a half-century, acknowledged the challenging nature of the pitch but emphasized his self-belief and determination to persist. "I had faith in my abilities," he declared. "Despite losing two early wickets, we remained steadfast in our approach, we knew the importance of building partnerships."

Following this setback, Bangladesh's prospects of advancing to the Super Fours of the Asia Cup hinge on their performance in the forthcoming match against Afghanistan and the outcome of the match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Bangladesh is set to face Afghanistan on September 3rd in Lahore.