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Cricket PlayersSri Lanka vs Afghanistan Highlights, Asia Cup 2022: Rajapaksa, Hasaranga help SL edge AFG in Super 4 contest in Sharjah
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2022 Highlights: Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by four wickets in the opening Super 4 game. Follow Highlights of SL Vs AFG T20 Asia Cup 2022, from Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, T20 Asia Cup 2022 Highlights: Sri Lanka held nerves in yet another tricky run-chase as they beat Afghanistan by four wickets in the opening Super 4 game of the Asia Cup on Saturday. The islanders chased down the 176-run target in 19.1 overs with several small but impactful contributions that sealed the issue for them. This was the highest run-chase in a T20I at Sharjah. Kusal Mendis (36 off 19 balls) started from where he had left against Bangladesh the other day as he launched into opposition's best bowler Rashid Khan, depositing him for two successive sixes as 17 runs came in that over inside the Powerplay. However, it was Danuska Gunathilaka (33 off 20 balls) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 14 balls), whose 32 runs stand of just 2.3 overs changed the complexion of the game. Rajapaksa's late blitz eclipsed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who smashed 84 to guide Afghanistan to a 175-6 in 20 overs. Gurbaz put on a key second-wicket stand of 93 with Ibrahim Zadran, who made 40, after being put into bat first but Sri Lanka hit back late to check the opposition total. Zadran though got a few lusty blows and so did Rashid Khan (9) towards the fag end of the Afghanistan innings to take the score close to 180.
...Read MoreSri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Team changes
No changes for Sri Lanka.
For Afghanistan, there is one change, with Samiullah Shinwari coming in for Azmatullah Omarzai.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Playing XIs
Afghanistan: 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: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: 'Want to put a good score' says Mohammad Nabi
After toss, Nabi said, "We would like to bat first, we want to put a good score on the board. Really happy with the way our bowlers have performed. Hopefully they bowl well today as well. We had a good game here against Bangladesh. We want to do well again. We have one change - Shinwari comes in."
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: 'We are good at chasing' says Dasun Shanaka
After the toss, Shanaka said, "We are going to bowl first, we are good at chasing. So it's a good toss to win. The openers got us a good start, and we had partnerships in the middle. That was important. That helped us control the game. Playing with the same team."
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Toss - SL win toss, opt to bowl
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bowl.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: 'It was impressive', says Sri Lanka assistant coach
Ahead of the match, Sri Lanka assistant coach Nawaz defended his side's bowling vs Bangladesh in their Group B fixture. He said, "We had a couple of players debuting. So you have to give them opportunities and allow them to make a couple of mistakes at this level since they are new to the trade. This is the reason why our bowling was here and there. But they (bowlers) came back together in the end and it was impressive".
"Even a small win can be a big win for a country. It is important for us as a group. It lifts everyone up and gives boys momentum to change their thinking and drive things towards the right direction", he further added.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Weather report
The temperature is expected to be around 35 degrees Celsius with 45% humidity and 13 km/hr wind speed. There is no chance of rain.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: All eyes on Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Focus will be on Mujeeb as Afghanistan take on Sri Lanka. In two games, Mujeeb has taken five wickets for the mighty Afghans.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Squads
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Samiullah Shinwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Usman Ghani, Noor Ahmad
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay, Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Last meeting
Both teams last met in the Asia Cup 2022 opener, where Afghanistan won by eight wickets in Dubai. Farooqi was in spectacular form and took three wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 105 in 19.4 overs. Chasing a target of 106 runs, Zazai smacked an unbeaten knock of 37 runs off 28 balls, to reach 106 for two in 10.1 overs.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: 'Need to focus on our basics', says Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Ahead of the match, Gurbaz said during the pre-match conference, "I think playing against any team either it’s Bangladesh or India it’s the same for us. We just need to focus on our basics. We need to focus on strengthening our weaknesses. It does not matter what teams we are playing against. We have to be positive in every match. We will not take the pressure of going against India or any team. We are focusing on playing good cricket".
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Most wickets in AFG vs SL T20I matches
1. Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan): 3 Wickets (M:1, Econ: 3.00, Avg: 3.66, BBI: 3/11)
2. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan): 3 Wickets (M:2, Econ: 4.87, Avg: 13.00, BBI: 2/14)
3. Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka): 3 Wickets (M: 1, Econ: 8.25, Avg: 11.00, BBI: 3/33)
4. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka): 2 Wickets (M: 1, Econ: 6.00, Avg: 12.00, BBI: 2/24)
5. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan): 2 Wickets (M: 1, Econ: 6.00, Avg: 12.00, BBI: 2/24)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Most runs in SL vs AFG T20I matches
1. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka): 83 Runs (M: 1. Avg: -, SR: 148.21, HS: 83*)
2. Asghar Afghan (Afghanistan): 62 Runs (M: 1, Avg: 62.00, SR: 131.91, HS: 62)
3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan): 40 Runs (M: 1, Avg: 40.00, SR: 222.22, HS: 40)
4. Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka): 38 Runs (M: 1, Avg: 38.00, SR: 131.03, HS: 38)
5. Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan): 37 Runs (M: 1, Avg: -, SR: 132.14, HS: 37*)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Head-to-head
In T20Is, both sides have faced each other twice, with each winning once. They last met in Dubai in August 2022. In Asia Cup, they have faced each other thrice with Sri Lanka winning once and Afghanistan claiming two wins.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Live: Hello and good evening everyone!
Hello and good evening everyone! Welcome to our live coverage of today's Asia Cup 2022 fixture between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, straight from Sharjah.
