Asia Cup 2022, SL vs AFG Highlights: Afghanistan on Saturday defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the opening match of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium. Chasing a target of 106, Afghanistan reached the target with 59 balls to spare. Hazratullah Zazai hit an unbeaten 37 while Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a quickfire 38 at the top of the order. Earlier, Fazalhaq Farooqi starred with a spell of three for 11 as Afghanistan bowled out Sri Lanka for 105. After being put into bat, Sri Lanka were tottering at five for three as Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq ran riot in the first two overs. Farooqi struck twice in the first over to dismiss Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka, before Naveen-ul-Haq got the better of Pathum Nissanka in the next over. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Danushka Gunthilaka added 44 runs for the fourth wicket before Mujeeb-ur-Rahman gave the latter his marching orders.
Sri Lanka XI: Gunathilaka, Nissanka, K Mendis, Asalanka, Rajapaksa, Shanaka, Hasaranga, Karunaratne, Theekshana, Madushanka, Pathirana
Afghanistan XI: Zazai, Gurbaz, Zadran, Janat, Zadran, Nabi, Rashid, Omarzai, Naveen, Ur Rahman
Here are the Highlights of the Asia Cup match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan straight from Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
- 22:21 (IST)Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by 8 wicketsThat's it, it's all over! Afghanistan win the game by 8 wickets. It took them just 10.1 overs to chase down 106.
- 22:14 (IST)Oh dear, one of the worst ways to be outZadran walks back! Zazai hits one down the ground and Theekshana manages to get his fingers to it. The ball hits the stumps and Zadran was way ahead
- 22:04 (IST)Breakthrough for Sri Lanka
- 21:57 (IST)Zazai pulls this for a boundaryGurbaz and Zazai are running away and Afghanistan are cruising in their chase
- 21:51 (IST)Same treatment from GurbazTwo sixes off as many deliveries! Gurbaz is taking the game to the Sri Lankan bowlers. He hits this one over long-off
- 21:50 (IST)Monstrous hit from ZazaiThat has gone all the way! Zazai clears the front leg and then almost checks his slog after connecting with the ball.
- 21:44 (IST)Helped it over fine leg for a sixGurbaz got a top edge but he only needed to use the bowler's pace. Gone all the way for a six
- 21:43 (IST)Crashed over mid-offGurbaz slaps it past mid-off for four. Excellent start this for Afghanistan
- 21:36 (IST)Gurbaz survives thanks to DRSSpinner brought in early and Maheesh Theekshana almost strikes with his first ball! Traps Gurbaz in front as he misses his slog sweep. Gurbaz reviews and it shows the ball was going down leg. He survives
- 21:34 (IST)FOUR! Hazratullah Zazai gets a boundaryBanged in short by Madushanka and Hazratullah Zazai stands tall and pulls it away through midwicket for a boundary. Good start for Afghanistan. 11 off the over
- 21:33 (IST)5 Wides for AfghanistanMadushanka bowls it down the leg side and even the keeper can't get to it as it runs away to the boundary
- 21:31 (IST)Afghanistan off the markHazratullah Zazai starts off Sri Lanka's chase with a single
- 21:21 (IST)Farooqi cleans up Karunaratne
- 21:15 (IST)Stand and delivered!Karunaratne is playing some cameo here. Hits it over the head of the bowler and will get the boundary
- 21:12 (IST)No ball and four runsMore boundaries for Sri Lanka as Naveen mises his length and Karunaratne punishes him.
- 21:03 (IST)Karunaratne takes the aerial routeSome valuable runs for Sri Lanka these. Naveen tried his best. Six runs
- 20:56 (IST)The sweep leads to his downfallGone up in the air again and Najib takes an easy catch.
- 20:45 (IST)Back-to-back run outs! Unbelievable
- 20:43 (IST)Rajapaksa gets undone by the direct hitTerrible mix-up and Sri Lanka lose Rajapaksa.
- 20:35 (IST)Captain gets captain!Nabi strikes first ball! Dangled his bat wide outside off and gets a faint edge on it. Golden duck for Shanaka
- 20:32 (IST)Sri Lanka lose Hasaranga as well
- 20:19 (IST)Mujeeb strikes for AfghanistanGunathilaka tries the reverse sweep but holes out in the deep! Sri Lanka lose another wicket.
- 20:06 (IST)Helped away with ease!Scoops it over fine leg and it goes all the way for a boundary! Gunathilaka making the most of it
- 20:00 (IST)Excellent cover driveDriven emphatically by Gunathilaka! He finds the gap towards the cover region and ball races away for a boundary
- 19:52 (IST)Naveen-ul-Haq joins the party
- 19:42 (IST)Farooqi on a hattrick!This one nips back in sharply and Asalanka is caught wrongfooted. He doesn't even bother to review it.
- 19:39 (IST)Farooqi strikes early!LBW appeal turned down But Afghanistan review. Excellent review from them as Mendis has to depart
- 19:33 (IST)We are underway!First ball on the pads and Nissanka gently flicks this down the leg side. He is off the mark, and so are Sri Lanka.
- 19:23 (IST)Here are the teams
- 19:02 (IST)Asia Cup Live: AFG WIN TOSSAfghanistan wins the toss and captain Mohammad Nabi has elected to bowl first.
- 18:46 (IST)SL vs AFG 1st Match: No Chameera For Sri LankaIt is worth noting that Sri Lanka's ace pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of the continental event due to injury.
- 18:44 (IST)Which team is in which group?Group A comprises of India, Pakistan and Hong Kong, while Group B has Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
- 18:42 (IST)2022 Asia Cup formatThe tournament this year will be a T20 affair as it will be followed by T20 World Cup. The tournament features six teams divided into two groups. The teams play each other once in their respective groups before the top two teams from both groups advance to the Super 4s. After a round-robin stage in Super 4s, the top two teams will play the final.
- 18:32 (IST)Helo guys!Hello everyone, welcome to the space. Sri Lanka play against Afghanistan in the opening match of Asia Cup 2022 today. You will get the live score and other updates from the match here. Stay connected!