Asia Cup 2022, Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Highlights: Sri Lanka hunt down Afghanistan with superb all-round effort in slog overs

It was fantastic bowling effort at the death that saw Sri Lanka restrict the Afghans to 175 for 6 with only 37 runs coming in the last five overs despite a brilliant 84 off 45 balls by Rahamanullah Gurbaz. As It HappenedIn reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 19.1 overs with several small but impactful contributions that sealed the issue for them. This was the highest run-chase in a T20I at Sharjah.

Just like great bowing at the death, the overs between 15-18 yielded 51 runs for the Lankans and that proved to be a game-changer. Kusal Mendis (36 off 19 balls) started from where he had left against Bangladesh the other day as he launched into opposition's best bowler Rashid Khan, depositing him for two successive sixes as 17 runs came in that over inside the Powerplay. And before that, Mendis had a maximum of Mujeeb ur Rahaman. All three sixes were in the arc between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg. His opening partner Pathum Nissanka (35 off 28 balls) also gave solid support as 62 were added for the opening stand. However, it was Danuska Gunathilaka (33 off 20 balls) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 14 balls), whose 32 runs stand of just 2.3 overs changed the complexion of the game. Their daredevilry had enormous impact in the final outcome of the game as they hit sixes and found the gaps with ease. In the 34 balls that they played, there were six fours and three sixes. The Afghan bowlers, who are not always used to handling pressure situations, did falter in the end and Rashid's poor day (1/39 in 4 overs) at the office did have its effect. Put into bat young opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave a brilliant exhibition of his dashing strokeplay as his innings was the cornerstone of Afghanistan's competitive total of 175