Sri Lanka turned the table on Afghanistan big time with a four-wicket win in the first Super Four match of Asia Cup 2022 on Saturday. Afghanistan, who hammered Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the tournament opener, failed to defend 175/6 as the Lions reached the target with five balls to spare. And tomorrow, we have India vs Pakistan.
Pathum Nissanka (35 off 28) and Kusal Mendis (36 off 19) gave Sri Lanka a good start by posting a 62-run opening stand, then Danushka Gunathilaka (33 off 20) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 14) hit some brutal hits to render the famed Afghan spin attack featuring the likes of Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq effectively ineffective in a record chase -- for the venue and against Afghanistan. Sri Lanka also chased down Bangladesh's 183/7 on Thursday in Dubai.
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Earlier, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, given a life early in the innings, ensured that Afghanistan scored a big total against Sri Lanka in the first Super Four match of Asia Cup 2022. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bowl first in Sharjah on Saturday. In the third over, Maheesh Theekshana had Gurbaz caught for 8 runs but Danushka Gunathilaka. But the fielder's foot touched the rope, then Gurbaz scored 84 off Afghanistan's 175/6. Sri Lanka did manage to pull things back, but they face a stiff chase. Catch cricket scores and highlights of SL vs AFG, Asia Cup 2022 match:
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Brief Scores
Afghanistan: 175 for 6 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84, Ibrahim Zadran 40; Dilshan Madushanka 2/37).
Sri Lanka: 179 for 6 in 19.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 36, Pathum Nissanka 35, Danushka Gunathilaka 33; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/30, Naveen-ul-Haq 2/40).
