The Islanders’ collective batting may trumps Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 45-ball 84
The Islanders’ collective batting may trumps Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 45-ball 84
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 45-ball 84 (4×4, 6×6) was overshadowed by cameos from Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31, 14b, 4×4, 1×6) and Danushka Gunathilaka (33, 20b, 2×4, 2×6) and good death-bowling as Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 4 wickets within the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup on Saturday.
Chasing 176, Sri Lanka was 82 for 2 after 10 overs and 127 for 4 after 15. Needing 49 off 30, Rajapaksa focused Naveen-ul-Haq within the sixteenth over, hitting two fours and a six. He loved a slice of luck when he was dropped in the identical over. It proved pricey.
Earlier, Rashid Khan was introduced on within the sixth over with two right-handers on the crease. But Kusal Mendis slog-swept him for 2 back-to-back sixes because the Islanders raced to 57 for no loss after six overs. However, Mendis was caught off Naveen within the very subsequent over. Pathum Nissanka hung round for some time earlier than falling to Mujeeb ur Rehman (2/30).
When Charith Asalanka inside-edged Mohammad Nabi onto his stumps, there was a momentum shift. But some atypical floor fielding, allied with poor catching, revived Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan’s focus whereas batting was on maximising the PowerPlay. Opener Gurbaz took Afghanistan to 49 for one after the primary six overs on a sluggish and low pitch. Gurbaz bought a reprieve when he was caught at long-on off Maheesh Theekshana within the third over, however the fielder’s foot had touched the boundary. Gurbaz was on 9 on the time and raced to 50 off 22 balls.
Gurbaz was daring however not foolhardy in his strategy, operating properly between the wickets when the boundaries dried up from overs 9 to 12. The spotlight was his 22-ball 50, which he celebrated by waving his bat in direction of the followers whereas double-punching the nationwide crest on his shirt. However, Afghanistan misplaced 5 wickets for 37 within the final 5 overs, which proved decisive ultimately.
The scores: Afghanistan 175/6 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84, Ibrahim Zadran 40) misplaced to Sri Lanka 179/6 in 19.1 overs (Pathum Nissanka 35, Kusal Mendis 36, Danushka Gunathilaka 33, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 31).
Toss: Sri Lanka; MoM: Gurbaz.
