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Sri Lanka (Image source: Twitter)
After a highly entertaining first stage of the Asia Cup 2022, it was time for the Super Four encounter between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and it did not disappoint. Sri Lanka, after qualifying in a nail-biter, went against the dark horse Afghanistan in the first match of the Super Four and won it by four wickets.
Sri Lanka decided to bowl first after winning the toss as has been the norm in the Asia Cup 2022. Coming onto bat first, Afghanistan started off cautiously given the importance of the match and built a 46-run partnership for the opening wicket.
Hazratullah Zazai was the first to depart but it did not dent Afghanistan’s confidence as the new batter Ibrahim Zadran came up with a great knock of 40 off of 38. Meanwhile, Rahmanullah Gurbaz came up with inning-defining 84 off 45 deliveries from the other end.
Afghanistan looked on track for a massive score but the untested lower order did not come good with the bat as they got out cheaply in the end stages. Afghanistan still went on to score 175 in the first innings in what looked like a defendable score against lackluster Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan bowlers could only take four Afghanistan wickets.
Coming onto chase the total, Sri Lanka got an even better start on top as both openers made 30 odd runs for a 62-run partnership for the first wicket. Pathum Nissanka (35) and Kusal Mendis (36) imparted confidence in the next batters with their clean hitting.
Danushka Gunathilaka, with a 33 off just 20, edged Sri Lanka closer to an upset in the first match. A bit of heated moment between Rashid Khan and Gunathilaka got to the batter's head and he was bowled out by the Afghanistan star.
The winning side got into a bit of scare towards the end as they lost reactionary wicket trying to finish with a bag but calm minds persisted. Wanindu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne took their side to an impressive win.
Let's look at how Twitter reacted to Sri Lanka's important win against Afghanistan in the first Super Four match:
Don’t sleep on Sri Lanka, they are peaking at the right time 🇱🇰
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) September 3, 2022
Dangerous side ⚠️ #AFGvSL #SportsYaari
Fine run chase by Sri Lanka with quite a few batsmen making valuable contributions. Afghanistan had finished about 20 runs short, fielded poorly but the biggest blow was Rashid Khan having an off day. That eased the pressure on batsmen considerably
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 3, 2022
What a chase by Sri Lanka, beaten Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the Asia Cup.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 3, 2022
Rajapaksha is the hero, 31 from just 14 balls at a strike rate of 221.43 - the impact man for Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/yMd6c3MuFR
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 3, 2022
Brilliant effort by @dasunshanaka1 and the lads with their record chase at Sharjah overcoming Afghanistan, and also shaming some haters and doubters in the process! Well done Sri Lanka.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) September 3, 2022
Another STUNNING chase by Sri Lanka - the Asia Cup continues to deliver, all 4 Super 4 teams in the running.
— Emmad Hameed (@Emmad81) September 3, 2022
Before this match Afghanistan had never lost a T20I after posting 170 or more batting first, but Sri Lanka brings an end to their winning streak, highest successful chase in a T20I at Sharjah too.#SLvAFG #AsiaCupT20
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) September 3, 2022
Whenever people doubted Sri lanka Our Boys proved them wrong🥺❤️#SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/YSXrgHKcjx
— The Avenger (@Mrirrelevant___) September 3, 2022
What a match! Congratulations to Sri Lanka on the win. Clearly the much better side today.
— Brashna Kasi (@Brashnaa) September 3, 2022
Tough luck, team blue!! 👊🏻 #AFGvSL