Sri Lanka 179/6 (19.1) beats Afghanistan 175/6 (20)
Low full toss and Karunaratne pumps the ball over mid-off to beat Afghanistan by four wickets. Sri Lanka clinches the first win in the Super Four!
Naveen overpitches and Rajapaksa crunches it through cover for FOUR! Rajapaksa flicks to deep mid-wicket to find two more runs. Nearly there, SL. Slower-ball and Naveen cleans up Rajapaksa! Karunaratne dabs one to cover and sets off on a quick single. Hasaranga gets width but slaps it straight to point, dot. Another dot. Slower ball on length and Hasaranga finds the cover fielder.
Farooqi goes full and across and Hasaranga carves it through point for FOUR! Slower-bouncer from Farooqi and Hasaranga gets a top-edge over the keeper for FOUR!
Gunathilaka reverse sweeps over backward point for FOUR off Rashid Khan. Rashid to Gunathilaka, OUT! Cleans him up with a ripper. Rashid drops short and Hasaranga rocks back to slash it behind point for FOUR.
Danushka Gunathilaka b Rashid Khan 33 (20b 2x4 2x6)
Sri Lanka might have lost skipper Shanaka to a sensational catch by Najibullah at long-on but Rajapaksa and Gunathilaka have maintained the heat on the bowlers with a flurry of boundaries. Rajapaksa tears into Naveen who wavers on length once again. Slower ball outside the off-stump and Rajapaksa hits straight to the deep cover fielder who juggles and drops a sitter!
Loud shout for an lbw and the umpire raises his finger. Shanaka has been trapped in front. Oh well, SL has gone for a review and it seems like it is missing the off-stump. Shanaka survives!
Gunathailaka pummels Nabi with a lofted extra cover drive for SIX! What a shot from the left-hander. A single to follow. Nabi to Asalanka, OUT! There goes another. No footwork whatsoever as Asalanka drags a ball from outside off to the stumps. Top-edge above the air and Karim Jannat spills a regulation catch and it springs to the fence for FOUR!
Charith Asalanka b Mohammad Nabi 8 (14b)
Rashid skids one through the wicket and seemingly traps Gunathilaka in front but the umpire suggests it has run down leg.
Nabi races through a top over and the pressure slowly creeps up to the Lankan batters. Gunathilaka and Asalanka will need to form a solid stand to avoid a lower middle-order scramble again.
Mujeeb returns and offers one in the slot and Nissanka dispatches it over deep mid-wicket for SIX.Mujeeb to Nissanka, OUT! Edged and taken! A cracking catch from Gurbaz. Short and wide from the stumps and Nissanka goes for the heave and gets a sharp outside-edge to the keeper.
Pathum Nissanka c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 35 (28b 3x4 1x6)
Nabi concedes in his first over as Nissanka and Asalanka does not allow the momentum slip away. They keep the scoreboard ticking with some quick running between the wickets.
Naveen to Mendis, OUT! Pulls straight to the deep mid-wicket fielder! A wicket against the run of play.
Kusal Mendis c Ibrahim Zadran b Naveen-ul-Haq 36 (19b 2x4 3x6)
Short ball from Rashid and Kusal sits down on one knee and smacks it over mid-wicket for SIX! Similar length and Kusal swivels to thwack it over backward square leg for another SIX - what a finish to the PowerPlay!
Rashid Khan replaces Mujeeb
Naveen starts with an iffy over, spraying deliveries across the turf and Sri Lanka finds nine runs from the over.
Naveen Ul Haq into the attack
Mujeeb drops short and Mendis unleashes a blistering slog-sweep for SIX!
Nissanka takes charge with a couple of boundaries - a top-edge over the keeper and a controlled pull through mid-wicket for FOURs as Farooqi goes short.
Prodigious dip for Mujeeb into Kusal who lofts it down to long-on for single. Mujeeb is a tad off his usual lines and the batters negotiate in singles.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is into the attack
Farooqi strays to the pads and the ball slides down leg off Nissanka for FOUR. Nissanka and Mendis exchange strike with a couple of singles and Farooqi fends one down leg for a wide.
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are set to open the SL chase. Left-armer Fazalhaq Farooqi’s up with the new ball.
AFG 175/6 in 20 overs
This week on ‘Wednesdays with WV’, WV Raman is joined by Chaminda Vaas to talk about his illustrious career and all things Sri Lanka cricket.
Top start from Asitha in the final over against Rashid Khan. THREE dots on the trot. Varies his lengths and speeds deftly as Rashid attempts to hoick across the line. Rashid waits and waits and finally gets the length ball. He connects beautifully and pumps the short ball over mid-wicket for SIX. A yorker to finish and Rashid hopes to squeeze in two runs. The keeper flicks the bails off a through from deep point and Rashid is short of his crease.
Rashid Khan run out (Nissanka/†Mendis) 9 (7b 0x4 1x6)
Theekshana to Nabi, OUT! Lobs straight back to the bowler. This has been a fine spell at the death from Theekshana. Keeping it absolutely fine on line and Nabi struggles to make room for his shot. Karam Janat attempts to squeeze a single first ball and Najibullah is run out at the ‘keeper’s end! A fine throw from mid-off and Najib is on his way.
Mohammad Nabi c & b Theekshana 1 (4b); Najibullah Zadran run out (de Silva/†Mendis) 17 (10b 1x4 1x6)
Madusanka to Ibrahim, OUT! Slower-ball on length and Ibrahim’s attempted ramp finds the short fine-leg fielder. Najib is on strike. High full-toss and Najibullah smokes it for a massive SIX! Madusanka misses the blockhole and Najib slices it through backward point for another FOUR. Horrendous over from Madusanka, a no ball. Free hit for Nabi. Madusanka sends in a bouncer that Nabi top-edges to the keeper.
Ibrahim Zadran c Fernando b Madushanka 40 (38b 2x4 1x6)
Excellent over from Theekshana. Ibrahim and Najibullah nudge about the circle for a five singles.
Asitha to Gurbaz, OUT! A cracking innings comes to an end. Another length ball but a touch slower from Asitha. Gurbaz mistimes his slog across the line and does not get the desired timing to clear the midwicket. Well, Afghanistan wouldn’t mind at this as the dangerous Najibullah Zadran has walked in.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz c de Silva b Fernando 84 (45b 4x4 6x6)
Gurbaz and Ibrahim employ some quick feet to counter Hasaranga upon his return. Brilliant running between the wickets and they reel in six more runs to the total.
In the air and Ibrahim beats the long-on fielder for SIX by a few inches! Stand and deliver from Ibrahim as Karunaratne feeds him length. A couple of singles to follow and Karunaratne sprays a loose delivery down leg for 5 wides. Sri Lanka is tapering off once again in the second-half of the innings. Length ball once again and Gurbaz smokes it over the sight-screen for SIX! 21 runs from the over!
Gurbaz slashes hard and narrowly lobs the ball over short-third for FOUR. An off-cutter there from Shanaka. Shanaka wafts one into the slot and Gurbaz muscles it over extra cover for SIX! Afghanistan has switched gears and Sri Lanka might be up for some carnage in the next seven overs.
Madhushanka pins Zadran with a couple of slower balls and the ones that tail in. Six runs off it. Is he piling the pressure on Gurbaz who would be forced to take some risks from here?
A good first over from Shanaka. This has been a good half-hour of effort on the field by the Lankans without little reward. Six runs off this one. Can they back up with some fine effort in the death?
Dasun Shanaka into the attack
Zadran has struggled to get a move on and Hasaranga has slyly attacked the stumps regularly. A slew of singles in the over and Sri Lanka is forcing the pressure on the batters.
FIFTY for Gurbaz in 22 balls. This guy is some player, isn’t he? Karunaratne keeps it tight with a couple of deliveries that skid off the deck. Meanwhile, Gurbaz’s half-century is the second-fastest by an Afghan batter in T20Is.
Chamika Karunaratne is into the attack
Hasaranga keeps Gurbaz pinned to the crease and loosens with a delivery in the slot. Gurbaz pounces on it in a flash and whacks it over mid-wicket for SIX. Nine runs from the over and Afghanistan will be hoping to cut down on the dots with bigger blows.
Excellent delivery on the full from Asitha, tailing into Gurbaz. He gets his bat down right in the nick of time and gets an outside-edge that runs fine to the fence for FOUR, beating the third-man by a few yards. A single follows. Short ball rising towards the head and Ibrahim gets into the act with a splendid upper-cut over the keeper for FOUR!
Hasaranga gets some sharp turn into Gurbaz’s pads. He rocks back to drive through cover but an excellent stop saves four runs. Just the single from the over. Top finish to the PowerPlay for SL.
Wanindu Hasaranga into the attack
Madushanka offers room and Gurbaz slices the ball past point for FOUR. A single to follow. Madushanka to Zazai, OUT! Cleans him up with one that angles in to take the off-stump. Another loose heave from Zazai and Sri Lanka makes a breakthrough.
Hazratullah Zazai b Madushanka 13 (16b 2x4)
Dilshan Madhushanka into the attack
Short ball from Asitha and Gurbaz tonks it over deep square leg for SIX! Length ball outside off and Gurbaz slaps it through point for FOUR.
Theekshana constricts Gurbaz with a couple of straight deliveries on length. Theekshana touches a shade full and Gurbaz unleashes a cracking slog-sweep over mid-wicket for SIX! Theekshana to Gurbaz, OUT! The carrom ball finds the miscue from Gurbaz, a skier to long-on and Gunathilaka takes a catch at the end of the fence. Well, well! Scratch that folks! The replays have suggested that the fielder has touched the fence.
Edged and past the keeper’s dive. Asitha digs one short and finds Zazai’s outside-edge first up and the ball races away for FOUR. Three dots to follow as Asitha cuts Zazai with a ball that angles across. Another one, beaten. Zazai attempts to play across the line and finds himself in a spot.
Asitha Fernando up from the opposite end
Theekshana slides the ball in sharply to Zazai who pushes it across. Hint of room and Zazai pounds the ball over mid-off for FOUR. A couple of singles to follow as Theekshana tightens his lines.
Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are out at the centre for Afghanistan. It will be spin to start with Maheesh Theekshana.
The players line-up for the national anthems.
TOSS: Sri Lanka wins toss, to bowl
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
Afghanistan Playing XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Samiullah Shinwari, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
TOSS, Playing XI updates coming up...
Who will be the leading wicket-taker tonight?
The prep works are heating up in Sharjah.
Afghanistan has emerged as a stronghold in the continental event over the course of the last six years and three editions. Here’s a read on the transformation of the side that cannot be taken lightly anymore.
Team Sri Lanka has arrived.
Sri Lankan players make their way into the stadium. | Photo Credit: AYAN ACHARYA
Ayan says: “Sri Lanka has three lefties in top six. If it plays the same XI as last game, it will be interesting to see how it uses Rashid Khan.”
The iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium is going one up over the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) tonight.
Our man on the ground, Ayan Acharya, has been having a decent vantage view of tonight’s surface, from almost five hours before the start of play. Here’s a key update, given Pakistan and Hong Kong had played at the venue last night:
SL vs AFG Preview
Sharjah Cricket Stadium will become the venue with the highest number of international matches, going past Australia’s Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), when it hosts the first Super 4 clash between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan on Saturday.
The last time these teams met in this Asia Cup, in the tournament opener on August 27 in Dubai, Afghanistan steamrolled Sri Lanka by eight wickets in a stunning all-round show.
Sri Lanka was 5 for 3 in two overs before being bowled out for just 105. Left-arm fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi was the chief tormentor with the ball before openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai made light work of the chase.
Since then, Afghanistan has beaten Bangladesh in Sharjah by seven wickets, and Sri Lanka edged past Bangladesh by two wickets to advance to the Super 4 stage. (FULL PREVIEW)
| Squads |
| Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay, Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara |
| Afghanistan Squad: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Samiullah Shinwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Usman Ghani, Noor Ahmad |
Which TV channels will broadcast SL vs AFG Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match live?
The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match will be telecast LIVE on the Star Sports Network.
At what time can you watch the SL vs AFG Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match?
The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match will start at 7:30 PM IST.
Where will the SL vs AFG Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match be held?
The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Super 4 match will be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
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