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Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the opening match of the Super Four stage in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a big target of 176, Sri Lankan batters came up with vital contributions to make sure they put on a successful chase. Openers Pathum Nissanka (35 off 28) and Kusal Mendis (36 off 19) scored crucial runs at the top before Danushka Gunathilaka (33 off 20) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 14) chipped in with impactful innings to help the Islanders seal the thriller.
Earlier, after being put to bat first, Afghanistan destroyed Sri Lanka bowlers and posted a massive 175/6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a scintillating knock by Rahmanullah Gurbaz of 84 runs from 45 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries, including 6 sixes.
Apart from Gurbaz, batter Ibrahim Zadran smashed 40 off 38 balls as Afghanistan reached a competitive total. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka picked up a couple of wickets while conceding 37 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Brilliant chase from Sri Lanka! 👊#RoaringForGlory #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/X4KKcaH5ng
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 3, 2022
Now that's a near-perfect chase. Lots of positives in this game, got to applaud the death bowling in particular, could have easily been left to chase 190+ if not for those overs from Theekshana and Fernando. #SLvAFG #AsiaCup2022
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) September 3, 2022
Brilliant win for SL! Chasing down 176. Not a single SL batter got 50. But 4 mid size innings coming at strike rates of 189,165,221 & 177 did it! Better way to win T20 games I think.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 3, 2022
Statistical highlights of Sri Lanka win:
– Highest successful T20I chase in Sharjah
– Highest ever succesful chase against Afghanistan in T20Is
– First loss for Afghanistan after posting 170+ when batting first#SLvAFG | #AsiaCup2022 | #AFGvSL— 🏏Flashscore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) September 3, 2022
With ENG, Silverwood perhaps had too much to do.
Just as a head coach, he is doing a fine job with SL.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) September 3, 2022
Played, Sri Lanka. Restricted Afghanistan in the slog overs and the chase was pretty much spot on.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) September 3, 2022
What a chase by Sri Lanka, beaten Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the Asia Cup.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 3, 2022
Lions Roar back
Sri Lanka showed glimpses of talent in last world T20
That Afghan defeat wake up them
They are a dangerous T20 batting side with Class stroke makers
Doubt a bit on their bowling thou— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews) September 3, 2022
179/6 by Sri Lanka today is the highest ever run-chase in a T20I at Sharjah #Cricket #AsiaCup #BANvSL
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) September 3, 2022
Cannot understand how Naveen ul Haq have managed to top the wicket charts in two Blast seasons which presents some of the flattest decks. Gets smashed by any half decent sides pretty much everywhere else he plays.
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) September 3, 2022
