Afghanistan produced a dominating all-round show to thrash a below-par Sri Lanka by eight wickets and begin their Asia Cup marketing campaign on a powerful notice on Saturday. Opting to bowl, Afghanistan first produced a sensational bowling effort to dismiss Sri Lanka for a paltry 105 in 19.4 overs.
This was the primary time Afghanistan bowled out a staff with out Rashid Khan (4-0-12-0) taking a wicket which underlined their present as a collective bowling unit. Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi (3/11) rattled the top-order earlier than spinners Mohammad Nabi (2/14) and Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman stifled the Lankans within the center overs.
In reply, Afghanistan cantered residence in simply 10.1 overs to register a giant win of their milestone a hundredth T20 International. Young wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave Afghanistan a fiery begin, smashing an 18-ball 40, whereas Hazratullah Zazai took the staff over the road with an unbeaten 37 off 28 balls (5x4s, 1×6).
The win additionally gave a giant push to Afghanistan’s internet run-rate (5.176) as they climbed to the highest spot in Group B to brighten their Super 4 probabilities. Group B additionally options Bangladesh, who tackle Afghanistan at Sharjah on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old Rahmanullah, who overturned an lbw choice after being given out for nought, was all class as he toyed with the Lankan bowling assault. Be it drives, pulls or lofted photographs, Rahmanullah displayed an array of photographs to take Afghanistan residence comfortably.
His flawless innings, nonetheless, got here to an finish when he stepped out to leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, solely to be foxed by a slower one. But it was too little too late as Afghanistan had on a regular basis of their arms with simply 23 wanted from 13.5 overs.
The solely blip in his sensational innings was when he was trapped in entrance and seemed plumb however on assessment the ball monitoring confirmed it was lacking the leg stump. Earlier, Farooqi (3/11) did the injury on the prime, together with wickets off successive deliveries within the opening over.
Sri Lanka had a horrendous begin as they slumped to five/3 inside two overs with Farooqi inflicting a double blow in consecutive deliveries within the opening over. The solely respite for the Islanders got here from Bhanuka Rajapaksa who led their restoration with a stroke-filled 29-ball 38 (5x4s, 1×6). But two clumsy run-outs in two balls uncovered the Lankans inexperience within the center.
First it was Nabi who got here up with a direct throw to finish Rajapaksa’s good counter-attacking knock after which one other mad operating noticed the dismissal of Maheesh Theekshana within the very subsequent ball to depart Sri Lanka tottering at 69/8.
They had been in peril of getting all out inside 15 overs after Nabi lowered them to 75 for 9.
Chamika Karunaratne confirmed the rearguard motion with a 38-ball 31 (3×4, 1×6) to take them previous 100.