Sri Lanka hand Afghanistan their first defeat in Asia Cup 2022; win by four wickets

Sri Lanka placed on a terrific efficiency to hand Afghanistan their first defeat of the event by four wickets. 

Sri Lanka received the toss and opted to bowl first. Put in to bat, Afghanistan scored 175 for six with opener and wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scoring with a 45-ball 84 whereas Ibrahim Zadran contributed 40. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka took two wickets whereas Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando bought one every.

Sri Lanka chased down the goal of 176 with 5 balls to spare with helpful contributions from Kushal Mendis (36), Pathum Nissanka (35), Danushka Gunathilaka (33) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31). Up till the fifteenth over, the match was evenly poised. Afghanistan even bought Sri Lanka’s skipper Shanka out. But all hell broke lose after Shanaka’s wicket as Rajapaksa got here in and slammed Naveen-ul-Haq for 18 runs in the sixteenth over. 

From there on, Sri Lanka didn’t look again and all of it got here all the way down to them needing only a single run in the final over to seal the match. For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq took two wickets apiece. 

Afghanistan Playing XI

Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Samiullah Shinwari, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Sri Lanka Playing XI

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

Brief Scores:

Afghanistan: 175 for six in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84, Ibrahim Zadran 40; Dilshan Madushanka 2/37)

Sri Lanka: 179 for six in 19.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 36, Pathum Nissanka 35, Danushka Gunathilaka 33; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/30, Naveen-ul-Haq 2/40) 

(Inputs PTI)

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