Bangladesh’s Asian Games campaign concluded without a cricket medal following a 63-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the bronze-medal playoff on Saturday.

Sent in to bat, Sri Lanka rebounded from a precarious position of 21 for four to post 165 for nine in their allotted 20 overs, driven by a brisk 65 off 32 balls from Tharindu Ratnayake.

Bangladesh’s pursuit unraveled early during their run-chase, resulting in the team being dismissed for 102 in 17.3 overs.

Ratnayake smashed seven boundaries and five sixes in an aggressive counter-attack.

He combined with Sahan Arachchige, who contributed 33, in a 40-run stand that transformed Sri Lanka's shaky start into a competitive score.

Bangladesh had initially asserted dominance after Mehedi Hasan grabbed two early wickets and Alis Al Islam took one on his international debut, reducing Sri Lanka to 21 for four after 3.5 overs.

However, momentum pivoted dramatically during the latter half of the innings. Ratnayake targeted the Bangladesh attack, helping Sri Lanka accumulate 114 runs across the final 10 overs.

Mustafizur Rahman proved costly, giving away 25 runs in the 14th over alone, while Rishad Hossain, who yielded just nine runs in his opening two overs, conceded 37 runs in his final two overs.

Bangladesh’s reply faltered right from the outset.

Saif Hasan was caught behind for a duck in the opening over and Tanzid Hasan departed for zero in the subsequent over.

Skipper Litton Das was subsequently removed by a Nuwan Thushara yorker without scoring, reducing Bangladesh to a dismal nine for three after 2.3 overs.

Towhid Hridoy staged a brief fightback with 11 off six deliveries before falling, followed by the quick dismissals of Parvez Hossain and Mehedi off consecutive balls to leave Bangladesh reeling at 64 for six.

Yasir Ali posted 21 and Parvez chipped in with 20, but the lower order showed little further resistance.

Nasum Ahmed, batting down at No. 9, top-scored with 26 off 28 balls to shield Bangladesh from a steeper margin of defeat.

For Sri Lanka, Thushara, Ratnayake, Arachchige, and another bowler claimed two wickets apiece.

The setback leaves Bangladesh without a single cricket medal at the Asian Games for the first time in history, ending a streak where both the men’s and women’s teams had previously secured podium finishes.

Consequently, Bangladesh's solitary medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games thus far remains a bronze earned in wushu.