Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup Highlights: Afghanistan Beat Listless Sri Lanka By 91 Runs

All-round Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by 91 runs in the Group B match at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Monday. Sri Lanka crashed out of the Asia Cup 2018 after the defeat. In the chase, Sri Lanka lost wickets right from the first over. Upul Tharanga (36) and Dhananjaya de Silva (23) later forged a 54-run second wicket stand but failed to convert their initial starts into big scores. In the middle overs, skipper Angelo Mathews (22) and Thisara Perera (28) played crucial knocks but failed to help their side cross the line. For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan scalped two wickets each. Earlier, top-order batsman Rahmat Shah scored a brilliant half-century as Afghanistan posted 249 runs against Sri Lanka, after opting to bat first. Rahmat Shah played a cautious knock of 72 runs from 90 balls to help his side post a challenging total on a batting-friendly wicket. His innings was laced with five boundaries. Openers Ihsanullah Janat (45) and Mohammad Shahzad (34) also contributed crucial runs on top of the order to get Afghanistan to a decent start. The duo stitched together a crucial first wicket stand of 57 runs before Shahzad fell prey to Akila Dananjaya. Later, Hashmatullah Shahidi (37) played a key knock in the middle-order. For Sri Lanka, Thisara Perera bagged a five-wicket haul while Akila Dananjaya scalped two wickets for 39 runs. (HIGHLIGHTS)

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Match 3, Asia Cup, 2018, Sep 17, 2018

Match Ended

SL

158/10 (41.2)

AFG

249/10 (50.0)

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by 91 runs

Highlights Between Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 2018 Asia Cup 3rd ODI straight from Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

00:20 IST: We leave you with all the highlights from the Group B match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Thank you for joining us on the live action, until next time, it's goodbye! 

00:18 IST: WICKET! Rashid Khan traps Lasith Malinga in front of the stumps. Malinga tried to sweep Rashid but fails to pick up the length and pays his price. Sri Lanka 158 all-out in 41.2 lose to Afghanistan by 91 runs.

00:13 IST: BOWLED! Now Thisara Perera bites the dust. He has been cleaned up by a good length delivery from Gulbadin Naib. Sri Lanka stumble to 156/9 in 40.2 overs.

00:11 IST: Final poweplay has been taken! Gulbadin Naib to bowl the 41st over with Sri Lanka needing 94 runs in 60 balls at the required run rate of 9.56.

00:03 IST: BOWLED! Akila Dananjaya tried to dance down the ground and have a swing at the ball from Mohammad Nabi but misses everything on the way as the ball takes the middle stump. Sri Lanka 153/8 after 38.2 overs. Sri Lanka need 97 runs to win from 70 balls.

23:53 IST: BOWLED! Mujeeb Ur Rahman has knocked Dasun Shanaka for a duck. That was brilliant ball from Mujeeb came in for the right-handed batsman to take the middle stump. Sri Lanka 144/7 after 35.3 overs.

23:50 IST: WICKET! Angelo Mathews makes a poor choice of shot, dances down the ground to hit it over long on but mistimes it to find Rashid Khan. He falls to Mohammad Nabi for 22 runs. Sri Lanka 143/6 after 35 overs.

23:45 IST: Boundary! Thisara Perera nudges away the ball down the leg side by Rashid Khan to find the fence. A poor delivery from Rashid, gets its treatment. Sri Lanka 140/5 after 34 overs.

23:40 IST: Drinks break! Sri Lanka 134/5 after 33 overs. They need 116 runs, with five wickets in hand to win the match. Required run rate 6.82.

23:37 IST: Boundary! Poor delivery from Aftab Alam, short-pitched, directed towards the leg side and Thisara Perera pull it over fine leg to find the fence.

23:31 IST: Boundary! Angelo Mathews uses his feet beautifully, flicks the shot to find gap over mid-wicket and Aftab Alam has leaked four runs here. Good over for Sri Lanka, seven from it, 123/5 after 31 overs. 

23:23 IST: Another tidy over for Afghanistan, just three runs conceded by Gulbadin Naib. Sri Lanka 113/5 after 29 overs. They need 136 runs from here to win the match with five wickets in hand.

23:16 IST: Run out! Mix-up, poor calling again and Shehan Jayasuriya pays the price at the non-strikers end. Angelo Mathews' had sent him back, not ready to take the second run. Meanwhile, Rashid Khan threw the ball to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who dislodged the bails before Jayasuriya could make his ground. Sri Lanka 108/5. Thisara Perera is the new batsman in.

23:10 IST: Sri Lanka reach the 100-run mark in 25.1 overs. The second fifty took 79 balls to come. Huge appeal by Rashid Khan for a lbw meanwhile, he trapped Shehan Jayasuriya in front of the stumps, while the batsman was trying to sweep him. Gregory Brathwaite gives it not out. The Afghans think they have got their man, but they don't have a review. 6 runs from the over. Sri Lanka 105/4 after 26 overs.

23:05 IST: Another economical over from Rashid Khan comes to an end. Just two runs from it. Sri Lanka 97/4 after 24 overs. Mohammad Nabi to bowl from the other end.

22:58 IST: Three runs from the Rashid Khan over. Sri Lanka 92/4 after 22 overs. They need 158 runs to win the match, with six wickets to spare. Required rate 5.68, less than run a ball.

22:50 IST: WICKET! Upul Tharanga strikes it hard towards mid-on, just to find Asghar Afghan from Gulbadin Naib's delivery. Sri Lanka are losing their way here, 88/4 after 20.2 overs. Shehan Jayasuriya is the new batsman in.

22:46 IST: BOWLED! Rashid Khan strikes for Afghanistan, he gets rid of Kusal Perera for 17. Rashid bowled it full, Kusal failed to judge the length and pays the price. Sri Lanka 86/3 after 19.5 overs.

22:43 IST: Rashid Khan has been introduced for the first time in the match. Can he break the partnership here?

22:41 IST: Four more! Kusal Perera picked Mohammad Nabi's line outside off stump early and slams him for a sweep shot to the boundary over the square leg. Sri Lanka 83/2 after 19 overs.

22:38 IST: Boundary! Short delivery from Aftab Alam, Kusal Perera has a swing on it and the ball will take the aerial route to race down to the fence. Sri Lanka 76/2 affter 18 overs.

22:31 IST: Afghanistan has taken an referral! The Afghans looked confident as the ball from Mohammad Nabi goes on to hit the pads of Upul Tharanga. NOT OUT given, the ball was clearly drifting down the leg stump. Sri Lanka 68/2 after 17 overs and drinks break has been called by the umpires! 

22:27 IST: Swing and a miss! Back-to-back, Upul Tharanga tries to have a swing at Gulbadin Naib's delivery but fails to get anything from his bat as the ball nearly fails to take an edge off his bat. Sri Lanka 65/2 after 16 overs.

22:25 IST: Boundary! Pure timing from Upul Tharanga, he hits the good length delivery from Gulbadin Naib through the covers for four runs. Tharanga has now scored 30 runs from 50 deliveries.

22:22 IST: Lovey cover drive from Upul Tharanga to play the tossed up delivery from Mohammad Nabi to pick up a couple. Sri Lanka 59/2 after 15 overs. They need 191 runs to win with eight wickets to spare.

22:14 IST: RUN OUT! Comedy of errors there between Dhanjaya de Silva and Upul Tharanga. de Silva pays the price at the strikers' end. Sri Lanka 55.2 after 13.2 overs. Kusal Perera is the new batsman in. 

22:10 IST: WIDE AND BYES! Mohammad Nabi bowl it towards the leg side, Mohammad Shahzad fails to gather the bowl behind the stumps and those runs will hurt Afghanistan.

22:07 IST: BOUNDARY! Straight over the head of the umpire, Dhananjaya de Silva smashes Gulbadin Naib's full-length delivery, one bounce to the fence.

22:02 IST: SIX! Beautiful lofted shot from Dhananjaya de Silva, he disposes Gulbadin Naib's good length delivery for a maximum over cover region. Sri Lanka 42/1 after 10 overs.

21:58 IST: First bowling change for Afghanistan! Gulbadin Naib replaces Aftab Alam.

21:57 IST: Boundary! Upul Tharanga uses the depth of the crease to punch the ball from Mujeeb Ur Rahman, towards square. Much-needed boundary for Sri Lanka, 33/1 after 9 overs.

21:53 IST: Afghanistan are bowling well. Too many dot balls, putting pressure on Sri Lanka. Excellent over from Aftab Alam, just a single from it. Sri Lanka 28/1 after 8 overs.

21:47 IST: Three runs taken! Mujeeb Ur Rahman's carrom ball was drifting down the leg stump, Upul Tharanga nudges it towards the fine leg to take three quick runs. Sri Lanka 27/1 after 7 overs.

21:45 IST: Tidy over from Aftab Alam, only four runs from it. Afghanistan 21/1 after 6 overs.

21:40 IST: DROPPED! Outside edge from Tharanga, Mohammad Shahzad fails to catch it behind the stumps. Mujeeb ur Rahman could have picked up his second wicket. Sri Lanka 17/1 after 5 overs.

21:36 IST: A bit of hesitation! But Dhananjaya de Silva does well to reach back to the batsman's end after the throw failed to hit the stumps. Sri Lanka 13/1 after 4 overs. 

21:34 IST: Double! Upul Tharanga taps the bowl towards the square leg to pick up two runs from Aftab Alam's delivery. 

21:27 IST: Boundary! First runs on board for Sri Lanka, Aftab Alam bowls on the pads to Upul Tharanga, who directs the ball towards fine leg to find the fence. Sri Lanka 4/1 after 2 overs. 

21:25 IST: Brilliant start for Afghanistan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman! Maiden and a wicket for him. Afghanistan 0/1 after 1 over. Aftab Alam to bowl to Upul Tharanga in the second over. Dhananjaya de Silva is the new batsman in. 

21:21 IST: WICKET! Early breakthrough for Afghanistan as Mujeeb Ur Rahman traps Kusal Mendis in front of the stumps. Beautiful delivery from Mujeeb, coming back in for the right-handed batsman. Sri Lanka 01/ after 0.2 balls.

21:20 IST: Sri Lanka opener Kusal Mendis takes guard. He will face spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Fellow opener Upul Tharanga is on the non-strikers end. Sri Lanka begin their chase of 250 runs.

20:51 IST: BOWLED! Unnecessary attempt to play a reverse sweep from Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Thisara Perera's ball in the blockhole does the damage. Afghanistan end their innings on 249 runs. Seven runs and three wickets coming in the final over.

Afghanistan set a target of 250 runs for @OfficialSLC to chase in the third match of Asia Cup. Rahmat Shah top-scored with a great half-century scoring 72 runs while opening batsmen Ihsanullah Janat and @MShahzad077 scored 45 and 34 runs respectively. #AFGvSL #AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/7OnxzF1GIm

— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 17, 2018

20:50 IST: BOWLED! Nice and full from Thisara Perera, Rashid Khan was trying to go for a slog but fails to judge the ball. He departs for 13. Afghanistan 249/9 after 49.4 overs.

20:47 IST: SIX! What a way to start the innings, down the ground, first ball. Aftab Alam hits Thisara Perera over extra cover for a maximum.

20:44 IST: WICKET! Thisara Perera looks for yorker, Gulbadin Naib tries to hit him over the fielder inside the circle on the square and hands a low catch to Akila Dananjaya

20:42 IST: FOUR! Rashid Khan pulls Lasith Malinga over deep square leg to find the fence. 13 runs from the over by Lasith Malinga. Afghanistan 242/7 after 49 overs. Thisara Perera to bowl the final over. 

20:36 IST: BOWLED! Full length delivery from Thisara Perera, take an inside edge from Najibullah Zadran's willow. He departs for 12 runs. Afghanistan 227/7 after 47.5 overs.

20:32 IST: Five runs from that over by Lasith Malinga plus a wicket. Afghanistan 224/6 after 47 overs.

20:28 IST: WICKET! Mohammad Nabi tries to chip Lasith Malinga's slower one, but he has been caught by Thisara Perera. Nabi departs for 15. Afghanistan 222/6 after 46.3 overs. 

20:25 IST: SIX! Massive one from Mohammad Nabi, who hits Dushmantha Chameera over long-on for a maximum. Afghanistan 219/5 after 45 overs.

20:22 IST: Direct-hit! On the non-strikers end, the fielder at the short mid-wicket hits the stump as Mohammad Nabi tries to make his ground. The on-field umpire goes to the third umpire, who calls it not out.

20:15 IST: BOWLED! Thisara Perera bowls a good length delivery, Hashmatullah Shahidi tries to pull him over mid-wicket, but mistimes the shot as the ball dislodges the bails completely. Afghanistan 203/5 after 44.2 overs. Perera did not celebrate that wicket, he does not looks satisfied at this stage. 

20:14 IST: 200 runs up for Afghanistan in 43.5 overs. The fourth 50 took 58 runs to come. 4 runs from the Lasith Malinga over, Afghanistan 201,4 after 44 overs.

20:10 IST: Short delivery from Lasith Malinga, Mohammad Nabi pulls it to pick up a single towards square leg.

20:01 IST: OUT! Slower delivery, more like a cutter from Dushmantha Chameera and Rahmat Shah tries to play it over long on but mistimes it to find Thisara Perera. Rahmat Shah departs after a well played 72 runs. Afghanistan 190/4 after 41.1 overs. Mohammad Nabi is the new batsman in.

19:58 IST: Boundary! Sloppy work in the deep by Akila Dananjaya, Rahmat Shah pulls the good length delivery by Lasith Malinga towards fine leg to find the fence. Afghanistan 190/3 after 41 overs. Lasith Malinga has costed 44 for none in his seven overs.

19:51 IST: Boundary! Rahmat Shah moves on the back foot and cuts the ball through the cover region to find four runs. Afghanistan 183/3 after 40 overs. The fourth wicket stand between Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi has now stitched together 74 runs. Sri Lanka desperately need a breakthrough here. 

19:48 IST: Three runs from the Dushmantha Chameera over. 11 overs to go, Sri Lanka 178.3 after 39 overs. Bowling change for Sri Lanka Akila Dananjaya replaces Lasith Malinga.

19:39 IST: 10 runs from the Lasith Malinga over. Sri Lanka 166/3 after 36 overs. Malinga has failed to pick a single wicket from the five overs he has bowled.

19:33 IST: Boundary! Upper-cut from Hashmatullah Shahidi, well directed, short of a length delivery from Malinga will end up to the fence towards third-man.

19:31 IST: Half-century for Rahmat Shah! Shah brings it in style, back of a length delivery from Thisara Perera and Rahmat plays it over mid-off for a boundary. Afghanistan 156/3 after 35 overs. Lasith Malinga has been brought back into the attack.

19:29 IST: Direct-hit! Rahmat Shah survives, bit of hesitation in that call from both the batsman. There was a direct hit on the strikers end, but Rahmat was in safely.

19:25 IST: Tidy over from Dhananjaya de Silva, only three runs from it. Afghanistan 149/3 after 34 overs.

19:21 IST: Drinks break! Afghanistan 146/3 after 33 overs. Sri Lanka conceded five runs from the previous over by Akila Dananjaya.

19:17 IST: Afghanistan 141/3 after 32 overs. Dhananjaya de Silva concedes five singles from his last five balls. Akila Dananjaya to bowl from the other end.  

19:14 IST: Five runs from that over of Dushmantha Chameera. Afghanistan 136/3 after 31 overs. Akila Dhananjaya to bowl the next over. 

19:09 IST: Boundary! Hashmatullah Shahidi makes room for himself, punches it on the backfoot and the ball from Dushmantha Chameera will race away to the boundary towards thrid-man, who dived at full stretch to stop the ball from hitting the rope.

19:07 IST: Projected score 252 runs for Afghanistan from here on. If they manage to get at least 6 runs per over. Afghanistan 130/3 after 30 overs, 

19:01 IST: Boundary! Well balanced shot from Rahmat, wonderful execution, plays it towards the mid-wicket and he punishes Chameera for the pitched-up delivery.

19:00 IST: Bowling change for Sri Lanka, Dushmantha Chameera replaces Akila Dananjaya to bowl the 29th over.

18:57 IST: Boundary! Quicker delivery from Shehan Jayasuriya, no spin on it. Rahmat Shah plays it on the back-foot to find the gap through the covers for four runs. Shah has now scored 29 runs from 45 deliveries.

18:56 IST: Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has again deployed a slip for the left-hander Hashmatullah Shahidi on strike, trying to put Afghanistan on the backfoot. Afghanistan 113/3 after 27 overs.

18:51 IST: OUT! Asghar Afghan tried to play across the line and he has been trapped in front of the stumps by Shehan Jayasuriya. Afghan departs for 1. Afghanistan 110/3 after 26 overs. Hashmatullah Shahidi is the new batsman in. 

18:46 IST: Huge lbw appeal! Ihsanullah was trapped in front of the pads by Akila Dananjaya but the on-field umpire soft signaled it for a not-out and Sri Lanka have taken a review. OUT! The ball tracker shows the ball pitched in-line, impact in-line and Ihsanullah Janat departs for 45 off 65. Afghanistan now two down for 107 runs in 24.4 overs. Sri Lanka retain their review. Skipper Asghar Afghan is the new batsman in for Afghanistan. 

18:40 IST: Afghanistan cross the 100 run mark in 23.3 overs. Ihsanullah nudges the ball drifting down the leg stump to find the fence. Better over from the Afghanistan perspective, seven runs from it. Afghanistan 106/1 after 24 overs.

18:38 IST: Appeal for lbw! But the ball from Dananjaya was clearly drifting down the leg stump, umpire shakes his head, rules the decision in favour of the batsman. Afghanistan 99/1 after 23 overs.

18:35 IST: Angelo Mathews used Lasith Malinga only for one over in his second spell. Akila Dananjaya to replace Malinga. He will bowl the 23rd over.

18:33 IST: Two runs from Malinga's fourth over. Afghanistan 96/1 after 21 overs. Off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya to bowl from the other end.

18:29 IST: Lasith Malinga has been brought back into the attack. He will try to find the breakthrough. He had conceded 20 runs in his first spell of three overs. Afghanistan 94/1 after 20 overs. 6 extras conceded by Sri Lanka so far.

18:25 IST: Four more! Short-pitched delivery from Thisara Perera, will get its treatment. Ihsanullah Janat smashes it wide off the square fielder to the fence. Afghanistan 92/1 after 19 overs.

18:23 IST: Boundary! One bounce to the fence, Ihsanullah Janat punched the good length delivery from Thisara Perera, over the long-on to find the fence.

18:20 IST: Double from Ihsanullah Janat towards backward square leg to end the over. Janat and Rahmat Shah have now stitched an unbeaten 36-run third wicket stand. Afghnaistan 83/1 after 18 overs.

18:16 IST: Huge lbw appeal! Hawk-eye shows the delivery from Thisara Perera hits way over the off stumps, Ihsanullah Janat survives! Good from Sri Lankan perspective, they did not review it. Afghanistan 76/1 after 17 overs.

18:10 IST: Drinks break! Afghanistan 75/1 after 16 overs. Sri Lanka need to get wickets in quick succession here to get back into the match. The flow of runs otherwise has slowed for Afghanistan after the fall of their first wicket.

18:08 IST: Change of bowling for Sri Lanka. Dhananja de Silva to bowl the 16th over, he has the economy of around 5.00. But the ball has not spun much today.

18:03 IST: Another tidy over from Sri Lanka. Just two conceded by Akila Dananjaya. Afghanistan 64/1 after 14 overs. Thisara Perera to bowl from the other end.

18:01 IST: Brilliant over from Dushmantha Chameera. Only two runs from it. Afghanistan 62/1 after 13 overs. Akila Dananjaya to continue from the other end.

17:55 IST: Angelo Mathews has deployed a slip for the new batsman. He has set up an attacking field, in search of quick wickets. Rahmat Shah is the new man in for Afghanistan.

17:53 IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka have found a breakthrough in form of the dangeous looking Mohammad Shahzad. Unnecessary from the opener as he tried to play a reverse sweep and gets trapped in front of the stumps. Afghanistan 57/1 after 11.4 overs.

17:50 IST: SIX! First one of the match, Mohammad Shahzad dances down the ground, the delivery from Akila Dananjaya was sliding down the leg, but well read by Shahzad to hit it over the fence.

17:49 IST: Hesitation! Chance of a run-out, Kusal Mendis had plenty of time to take a hit at the batsman's end but he misses it and Afghanistan reach the 50-run mark in 10.5 overs with the loss of any wicket.

17:44 IST: Afghanistan 45/0 after 10 overs. For the first-time a team has not lost a single wicket in the powerplay at the Asia Cup 2018.

17:41 IST: A good looking shot over mid-wicket by Mohammad Shahzad, he collects two runs for it to end the over. Afghanistan 43/0 after 9 overs.

17:40 IST: Boundary! Bowled short by Thisara Perera in the third ball of his over and he has been smashed over mid-wicket by Mohammad Shahzad for four runs!

17:38 IST: Spin has been introduced by Sri Lanka. Off-spinner Akila Dananjaya to bowl to Mohammad Shahzad. He gives away three runs in his first over. Eight over gone, Afghanistan 35 for no loss.

17:34 IST: Boundary! First bowling change for Sri Lanka, Thisara Perrera been introduced and Ihsanullah Janat crafts his good length delivery through the covers for a boundary! Afghanistan 32/0 after 7 overs. 

17:30 IST: Maiden over from Dushmantha Chameera. His second already from the three overs he has bowled. Afghanistan 28/0 after 6 overs.

17:25 IST: Another boundary! This time from the bat of Ihsanullah Janat, good length delivery from Lasith Malinga, just a deft touch from Janat will be enough to find the fence. Afghanistan 28/0 after 5 overs.

17:22 IST: Boundary! Short pitched delivery from Lasith Malinga, Shahzad plays a uppish cut to find the fence away from the third man. Akila Dananjaya attempted a diving effort but the ball fell well out of his reach. 

17:20 IST: Four more! Shahzad smashes the over pitched delivery from Chameera, wide away from the mid-off fielder to the fence. Positive start for Afghanistan, 18/0 after 4 overs.

17:15 IST: Boundary! Ihsanullah Janat clips the good length delivery from Lasith Malinga over mid-wicket and gets off the mark. It took him eight balls to get his first runs on the board. Afghanistan 11/0 after 3 overs.

17:12 IST: Huge lbw appeal from Lasith Malinga! But the ball was clearly drifting down the leg stump. Shahzad will take a single for that.

 17:10 IST: Maiden over from Dushmantha Chameera. Ihsanullah Janat still to get off the mark. Afghanistan 6/0 after 2 overs.

17:05 IST: Six runs from the first over, all from the bat of Mohammad Shahzad. Afghanistan 6/0 after 1 over.

Dushmantha Chameera to bowl the second over from the other end.

17:02 IST: Boundary! Outside edge from Shahzad's bat, will go all the way to the fence. Lasith Malinga tried to keep the ball a bit wide the off stump, he pays the price for the extra bounce. Afghanistan off the mark in the second ball of the match.

17:00 IST: Mohammad Shahzad takes guard, he will face the first ball from Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga. Ihsanullah Janat is on the non-striker end.

16:55 IST: The match officials along with the teams have walked out in the centre for the national anthem.

16:40 IST: Afghanistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Shahzad (w), Ihsanullah Janat, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

16:35 IST: Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera (w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews (c), Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera

"Akila Dananjaya comes back in, as does Shehan Jayasuriya and Dushmantha Chameera. Amila Aponso and Dilruwan Perera miss out along with Suranga Lakmal," says Angelo Mathews. 

16:30 IST: Afghanistan captain Asghar Afhan wins the toss, opts to bat first. 

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first against @OfficialSLC in the third match of Asia Cup 2018. #AFGvSL #AsiaCup2018 pic.twitter.com/RtTUJPgST6

— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 17, 2018

16:25 IST: Pitch report: "The surface looks totally different from Dubai where we had no grass at all. The pitch here looks quite green but don't go by the looks because from my experience, the pitches in Abu Dhabi have been good for batting," says Rameez Raja. 

16:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live commentary from the Group B match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. 

Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi have all made 300-plus runs this season in ODIs. Rahmat Shah has been dismissed for a single-figure score only once in his last 17 innings, dating back to the Ireland series in Sharjah last December. Coming to their bowling, the spin duo of Rashid Khan (29 wickets from 11 ODIs) and Mujeeb Ur Rehman, will be expected to trouble the Sri Lankan batsman and wrap up their innings quickly.

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