✨ Asia Cup 2025: Group B Points Table After Sri Lanka Knock Out Hong Kong
The Asia Cup 2025 continues to deliver excitement, drama, and unforgettable performances. In the Group B clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka showcased their resilience by defeating Hong Kong by four wickets with just seven balls to spare. The victory not only highlighted Sri Lanka’s depth and adaptability but also officially knocked Hong Kong out of the tournament. With this win, Sri Lanka climbed to the top of the Group B points table, securing their spot as one of the strongest contenders in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.
This blog provides a complete breakdown of the Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong encounter, detailed analysis of Group B standings, and what this means for the upcoming fixtures in Asia Cup 2025.
🏏 Match Summary: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong – A Tense Battle
🔥 Hong Kong’s Batting Performance
Winning the toss and being put into bat first, Hong Kong started cautiously but managed to put up a respectable 149/4 in 20 overs.
- Nizakat Khan played a captain’s knock, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 52 off 38 balls. His innings featured four boundaries and two sixes, giving Hong Kong a competitive total.
- Anshy Rath complemented him beautifully with a steady 48 off 46 deliveries, striking four boundaries and rotating the strike effectively.
- The crucial 61-run partnership between Rath and Nizakat for the third wicket kept Hong Kong’s hopes alive.
Despite the slow start, Hong Kong’s batters showed maturity by keeping wickets intact. However, their inability to accelerate in the death overs meant they fell short of a truly challenging score against a team like Sri Lanka.
🎯 Sri Lanka’s Bowling Attack
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were disciplined, never letting Hong Kong run away with the game.
- Dushmantha Chameera stood out with figures of 2/29 in 4 overs, using pace and accuracy to dismantle Hong Kong’s momentum.
- Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka picked up a wicket each, applying pressure during the middle overs.
While Hong Kong posted a decent score, it was always going to be tough to defend against a confident Sri Lankan batting lineup.
⚡ Sri Lanka’s Chase: From Comfort to Collapse
Sri Lanka’s chase looked smooth at the start but turned into a nervy finish after a middle-order collapse.
- Pathum Nissanka, in sublime form this tournament, was the backbone of the innings. He smashed 68 off 44 balls with six boundaries and two sixes, proving once again why he’s considered Sri Lanka’s most reliable opener in T20Is.
- At 119/2, Sri Lanka looked set for a comfortable finish. But a flurry of quick wickets saw them slip to 127/6, raising doubts about their composure.
- Just when Hong Kong sniffed an upset, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped up. His quickfire 20 off 9 balls, including three boundaries and one six, sealed the win for Sri Lanka with seven balls left.
🛡️ Hong Kong’s Bowling Effort
Hong Kong bowlers deserve credit for fighting back after Nissanka’s onslaught.
- Yasim Murtaza, the skipper, picked up 2/37 in his 4 overs, keeping Hong Kong in contention.
- Their spinners tied down the middle overs, but the lack of death-bowling experience cost them the game.
📊 Group B Points Table After Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong
Sri Lanka’s victory over Hong Kong reshuffled the Group B points table significantly.
| Teams | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.546 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +4.700 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.650 |
| Hong Kong | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.151 |
- Sri Lanka: With two back-to-back wins, Sri Lanka sit comfortably at the top of Group B. Their balanced batting and bowling units make them one of the tournament favorites.
- Afghanistan: Despite playing only one match, Afghanistan’s huge win against Hong Kong gave them an astonishing NRR of +4.700, keeping them in second place.
- Bangladesh: After one win and one loss, Bangladesh sit in third. Their negative NRR of -0.650 could be a deciding factor if points are tied later.
- Hong Kong: With three straight losses, Hong Kong are out of the tournament. However, their performances against bigger teams showed flashes of potential that could help them in future qualifiers.
🚨 Key Takeaways from Sri Lanka’s Victory
🌟 Pathum Nissanka’s Form
Nissanka’s consistency at the top is a major positive for Sri Lanka. His ability to anchor and accelerate makes him one of the leading run-scorers of Asia Cup 2025.🏚️ Sri Lanka’s Middle-Order Concerns
The collapse from 119/2 to 127/6 exposed fragility in the middle order. Teams like Afghanistan and India will exploit this weakness if not fixed.🦁 Wanindu Hasaranga – The Finisher
Known for his bowling, Hasaranga’s cameo with the bat proved Sri Lanka has a reliable finisher. His all-round contributions make him indispensable.💪 Hong Kong’s Fightback
Despite being underdogs, Hong Kong’s bowlers pushed Sri Lanka to the edge. Their performance showed that associate nations are narrowing the gap with cricketing giants.📈 Points Table Impact
Sri Lanka’s win guarantees them control in Group B, while Bangladesh now face a do-or-die clash to keep their semi-final hopes alive.🏏 Cricketory Insights & Analysis
Sri Lanka’s Title Defense Looks Strong
With two wins in two matches, Sri Lanka are building momentum at the perfect time. Pathum Nissanka’s batting and Hasaranga’s all-round value have made them look like genuine title favorites.Afghanistan the Dark Horse
Their huge NRR (+4.700) means even if they lose narrowly to Bangladesh, they can still qualify. This makes Afghanistan one of the most dangerous sides in Group B.Bangladesh’s Survival Battle
Bangladesh must defeat Afghanistan to stay alive. Their inconsistent batting lineup is the biggest challenge as they prepare for a virtual knockout.Hong Kong’s Brave Exit
Despite three defeats, Hong Kong’s batters showed fight, and their bowlers pushed Sri Lanka close. They leave with respect earned and lessons to build on.Knockout Scenarios
- Sri Lanka already look through.
- Afghanistan vs Bangladesh is effectively a quarter-final.
- Hong Kong’s exit simplifies Group B into a three-horse race.
⏭️ What’s Next in Group B?
The Asia Cup 2025 is heating up, and Group B still has high-stakes matches left:
- Afghanistan vs Bangladesh will likely decide the second qualifier from Group B.
- Sri Lanka’s final group game will determine whether they enter the knockouts unbeaten.
- For Hong Kong, the tournament may be over, but their spirited displays will inspire the next generation of cricketers in associate nations.
✅ Conclusion
Sri Lanka’s four-wicket win over Hong Kong in Dubai not only ensured their dominance in Group B of Asia Cup 2025 but also reminded fans why they are defending champions. While Pathum Nissanka stole the show with his half-century, Wanindu Hasaranga’s late fireworks sealed the deal.
For Hong Kong, the campaign ended winless, but their efforts showed they belong on the big stage. Meanwhile, Afghanistan and Bangladesh remain in the race for the second qualifying spot, making the upcoming fixtures must-watch encounters.
The Asia Cup 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions yet, with every game adding new drama to the points table and qualification race.
❓ FAQs
Q1: Who is the top run-scorer for Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2025 so far?
👉 Pathum Nissanka, with consistent half-centuries, is leading Sri Lanka’s run tally.Q2: How many points does Sri Lanka have in Group B?
👉 Sri Lanka sits at the top with 4 points from 2 matches and an NRR of +1.546.Q3: Is Hong Kong eliminated from Asia Cup 2025?
👉 Yes, Hong Kong lost all three matches and are officially knocked out of Group B.Q4: What is Afghanistan’s NRR after beating Hong Kong?
👉 Afghanistan holds a massive +4.700 NRR, the best in Group B.