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Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2022: Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa Help Sri Lanka Seal Tense Win

Kusal Mendis' fiery start and a key lower-order knock by Bhanuka Rajapaksa powered Sri Lanka to a four-wicket win over Afghanistan in their Asia Cup Super 4 contest on Saturday. Set 176 for victory, Sri Lanka leaned on an attacking 62-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka (35) and Mendis (36) to achieve their target with five balls to spare at Sharjah. Afghanistan's bowlers got regular wickets to dent Sri Lanka's middle-order but Rajapaksa's 31 off 14 balls and a quickfire 16 not out from Wanindu Hasaranga helped them achieve the highest chase at the desert venue.

Despite all odds, the rise and rise of Afghanistan in T20Is

Before the start of the ongoing edition of the Asia Cup, most cricket experts were expecting Afghanistan to put up strong performances - and they lived up to that billing - beating both Sri Lanka (by 8 wickets) and then Bangladesh (by 7 wickets) to become the first team to qualify for the Super Four stage. The Afghans, who are currently ranked 10th on the ICC T20I team rankings, will now be up against Sri Lanka in the first Super Four match on Saturday, September 3 after the island nation clinched a thrilling two-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday to knock the Bangla Tigers out of the tournament. The two rather big wins against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (both ranked higher than Afghanistan in the T20 team rankings at 8 & 9 respectively) can't really be called upsets, considering just how much the Afghanistan T20I team has steadily improved.

Asia Cup: Afghanistan revelling in familiar conditions

Asia Cup here in UAE has been around how the conditions have become as good as home conditions for India and Pakistan. However, as Afghanistan roared into the Super 4s here in the Asia Cup after beating Bangladesh on Tuesday, captain Mohammad Nabi declared this is his team's territory more than any other team. "Since the last 15 years, most of the times we have played in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, we know the conditions well. Sometimes in Sharjah a low total is tough to chase, that's why in a low chase the batsmen didn't throw early wickets and at the end we targeted the bowlers and won the game," Nabi said after the match before adding: "As a team in this Asia Cup we are showing that Afghanistan have quality batsmen, quality bowlers and quality fielders."

Hardik Pandya rises to best-ever fifth spot in ICC T20I all-rounder rankings

Hardik claimed 3/25 and made 33 not out from just 17 balls, showing how vital his impact will be in India's T20 World Cup campaign later in the year in Australia. Elsewhere, Afghanistan's blistering start to the Asia Cup tournament has not gone unnoticed, with a number of players rewarded in the updated rankings.

Viral Video: Afghanistan Captain Mohammad Nabi Meets Old Fan On Wheelchair

Afghanistan players had a great time in the middle on Tuesday as they beat Bangladesh to enter the Super-4 stage of the ongoing Asia Cup. While spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan shone in the in the first innings of the match, Najibullah Zadran and Ibrahim Zadran stole the show in the second half. Afghanistan stopped Bangladesh at 127 for 7 and their chase, which seemed like a tight contest at one stage, was made a one-sided affair by the Zadran duo as they together stitched unbeaten 69 runs for the fourth wicket to seal victory for Afghanistan.

Asia Cup 2022: Shakib Al Hasan Reaches Milestone Of 100 T20I Matches

Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan reached the milestone of 100th T20I matches on Tuesday. He accomplished the feat during his side's Group B Asia Cup 2022 match against Afghanistan in Sharjah. Shakib did not have an impressive 100th T20I match as, despite a good start, he failed to stay on the crease for long. He was dismissed for 11 off 9 balls after pacer Mujeeb Ur Rahman dislodged his stumps. In 100 matches now, Hasan has scored 2,018 runs at an average of 22.67. He has scored ten half-centuries in the shortest format, with 84 being his best score.

Najibullah Zadran blasts Afghanistan to win over Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2022

Afghanistan became the first team to qualify for the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup after securing a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Asia Cup 2022, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights: Spinners, Najibullah Zadran take Afghanistan to Super 4s

Najibullah Zadran helped Afghanistan record a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup here on Tuesday. Afghanistan's star spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3/16) and Rashid Khan (3/22) ran through a reckless Bangladesh batting line-up to restrict the opposition to 127. Bangladesh stifled Afghanistan in the run chase before Najibullah's belligerent 43 not out off 17 balls, comprising six sixes, got his team over the line in 18.3 overs. As it happenedIbrahim Zadran also contributed with 42 off 41 balls as he shared an unbeaten 69-run stand off 36 balls with Najibullah.

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Mujeeb Ur Sport News

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2022: Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa Help Sri Lanka Seal Tense Win

Despite all odds, the rise and rise of Afghanistan in T20Is

Asia Cup: Afghanistan revelling in familiar conditions

Hardik Pandya rises to best-ever fifth spot in ICC T20I all-rounder rankings

Viral Video: Afghanistan Captain Mohammad Nabi Meets Old Fan On Wheelchair

Asia Cup 2022: Shakib Al Hasan Reaches Milestone Of 100 T20I Matches

Najibullah Zadran blasts Afghanistan to win over Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2022

Asia Cup 2022, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights: Spinners, Najibullah Zadran take Afghanistan to Super 4s