Afghanistan scored an easy eight wicket win over Sri Lanka chasing a 106 target in the opening match of the Asia Cup here in Dubai yesterday.
Afghanistan finished the match in just 10.1 overs after openers Hazratullah Zazai (37 not out) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (40) put on 83 runs for the first wicket in 6.1 overs.Sri Lanka will now need to beat Bangladesh by a huge margin to stand a chance of making it to the next round.
Earlier Sri Lanka put into bat first made a very poor start with three wickets lost for just five runs.
Opener Kusal Mendis was first out for two runs leg-before to paceman Fazalhaq Farooqi followed by deputy skipper Charith Asalanka back in the pavilion without scoring in the first over.The two wickets were then followed by a most controversial dismissal of opener Pathum Nissanka who was ruled out caught behind.Referred to the third umpire, an inexperienced Jayaraman Madanagopal, the decision was upheld although the replays showed the ball had not taken the edge of Nissanka’s bat.
The ruling stunned the Sri Lanka camp as Nissanka had to walk back after making just three runs.
Sri Lankan experienced opener Dhanushka Gunatilaka batted in the unusual position of number four and together with Bhanuka Rajapakse built up the innings picking 20 runs in the sixth and final power-play over.But with the total on 49, Gunathilaka on 17 played a reverse shot to be caught at deep extra cover that signaled a big collapse with Sri Lanka slumping from 49 for 3 to 75 for 9 at one stage with Rajapakse who hit five fours and a six for a top score of 38 also back in the dressing room.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa batted well for his 38 in 29 balls and lost his wicket through a run-out after skipper Dasun Shanka was caught behind for a first-ball duck facing off-spinner Mohammed Nabi as Sri Lanka lost seven wickets in 10.1 overs with a promoted Wanindu Hasaranga out for 2.
Thanks to Chamika Karunaratne who made 31 Sri Lanka were able to reach a total of 105 that was not enough to defend.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka 105 in 19.4 overs (Bhanuka Rajapakse 38, Chamika Karunaratne 31, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3/11, Mohammad Nabi 2/14, Mujeeb Ul Rehaman 2/24)
Afghanistan 106 for 2 in 10.1 overs (Hazratullah Zazai 37 not out, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 40)