First Match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka played at Dubai International Stadium, UAE on 27 August 2022
Afghanistan 106/2 in 10.1 Overs (Rahmatullah Gurbaz 40, Hasmatullah Zazai 37) beat Sri Lanka 105 All Out in 19.4 Overs (Bhanuka Rajapakse 38, Chamika Karunaratne 31, Danuska Gunatilake 17, Fazal Haq Farooqi 3/11, Mohammad Nabi 2/14, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/24 )
Afghanistan won by 8 wickets
Player of the match: Fazal Haq Farooqi
It was like a desert storm at Dubai International Stadium, UAE when in the very first match of Asia Cup Tournament 2022 played in T20 format Afghans rocked and rolled Lankans hammering them with a comprehensive 8 wickets victory.
In the group of death where Shakib led Bengal tigers are the only other team Afghans are in all advantageous position. For a team that won Asia cup 5 times it was sort of embarrassment for Sri Lanka. Put into bat on a green top seaming wicket rookie Fazal Haq Farooqi rocked them with double blow in the very first over.
Other pacer Naveen also exploited the condition well. Lankans had no clue how to deal with three pronged world class spin attack of Mujeeb (2/24), Nabi ( 2/14) and Rashid (0/12). Lankans succumbed to 105 all out in 19.4 overs. Afghans cruised past that target scoring 106/2 in 10.1 overs as Rahmatullah Gurbaz toyed with Lankan attack blasting 40 in 18 deliveries. Hasmatullah Zazai remained unbeaten on 37.
This year Asia Cup is being played in T20 format as a dress rehearsal for ICC T20 World scheduled to be played in Australia later in the year. 6 teams divided into two groups would fight for top four second round. Group A has tournament favorites India and Pakistan grouped with qualifier Hongkong . Group B tagged as group of death has Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Big win in the very first match puts Afghanistan in the advantageous position in the group.
Usually, Dubai wicket favors batting. But the newly laid surface yesterday looked green. It favored early seam movement which Farooqi and Naveen expertly exploited. Sri Lanka put into bat crashed to 3/5 before the crowd could even settle. World cricket knows about world class spin trio of Afghanistan. They squeezed even yesterday combining well. In their allotted 12 overs they grabbed 4 wickets giving away only 50 runs. Only three batsmen Rajapakshe (38), Karunaratne (31) and Gunatilaka (17) reached double figure. 8 others together could produce 13 runs as Lankans succumbed to 105 all out in 19.4 Overs.
Afghan openers started with all guns blazing. Flamboyant Gurbaz (40 in 18 deliveries) and Zazai (37*) set the tone scoring 83 in the first wicket partnership in only 6.1 overs. Ultimately, the target was scaled in only 10.1 overs. It was a massive win in a stormy fashion. Afghans gave strong warning to tournament favorites as well.
BDST: 1118 HRS, AUG 28, 2022
SMS
