T20 World Cup’22, AFG vs SL: Sri Lanka 148 for 4 (Dhananjaya de Silva 66*, Mujeeb 2-24) beat Afghanistan 144 for 8 (Hasaranga 3-13) by six wickets

Sri Lanka controlled Afghanistan’s innings by limiting the run rate by frequently making breakthroughs before partnerships could truly blossom. Sri Lanka only conceded 144 runs, or 8 runs, on a good batting surface, led by Wanindu Hasaranga, whose remarkable 3 for 13 was most responsible for hindering the opposition.

Sri Lanka’s chase began to falter when Pathum Nissanka was run out for 12.And despite Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s strong first innings and the new ball, they only managed 28 runs from the powerplay.

However, Dhananjaya de Silva patiently awaited opportunities. He started with Kusal Mendis in a slow partnership to make sure Sri Lanka didn’t lose top-order wickets like they had in the previous two games. After that, he started hitting sweet boundaries with Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa around him, and he ended the T20I with his best score, 66 not out off 44 balls. With nine balls remaining, Sri Lanka breezed home.

#T20WorldCup #T20WC2022 #AFGvSL #AFGvsSL #SriLanka (148/4) beat #Afghanistan (144/8) by 6 wickets at The Gabba in #Brisbane @T20WorldCup 🏏

AS IT HAPPENED: https://t.co/Gce3jAZFgf pic.twitter.com/irxd8sqsAO

— TOI Sports (@toisports) November 1, 2022

For Afghanistan, only Rashid Khan and Mujeeb claimed two wickets. Their defeat means that they are out of the running for a place in the semi finals. Even though they are slim, Sri Lanka’s hopes are still alive. To have a chance, not only must they defeat England in their next match, but other outcomes must also favour them.

HIGHLIGHTS

Afghanistan’s solid start

Rahmanullah Gurbaz seemed to be getting back into his work after beating Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, especially when he hit the first six of the game by lofting Lahiru Kumara down the ground in the third over. At the conclusion of the powerplay, Afghanistan had a platform with 42 for no loss, and he was on 28 off 23. Kumara, on the other hand, hit a ball back into Gurbaz with the first ball of the seventh over to hit the middle stump.Throughout the remainder of the innings, Afghanistan did not have a partnership that reached 30 runs.

Hasaranga’s masterclass

This isn’t the guy who scored more than 17 runs per over just two matches ago, you wouldn’t think. Hasaranga bowled the seventh, eleventh, fourteenth, and final over of this game, taking three wickets without giving up a boundary. He took great pleasure in bowling Rashid, his opposite number, with a googly in the 20th over, which not only cost Sri Lanka three runs but also two wickets. As usual, he was explosive on the field.

De Silva takes control

At the conclusion of the powerplay, De Silva was two off seven and 12 off 15, respectively. Despite the fact that he only had a modest total to chase, he did not panic when the required rate reached eight at the halfway point. De Silva hit a slow sweep off Rashid Khan in the 11th over for six, which kicked both his and the team’s innings into high gear.Mohammad Nabi was launched for a six into the sight screen, and he hit 54 runs off the last 29 balls he faced, smashing seamers over the covers and sending spinners legside. His partnership with Asalanka really gave Sri Lanka the lead in the game. Together, they won 54 of 34;De Silva scored 29 on 16.

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Rashid’s bad day

In point of fact, Rashid bowled skillfully, catching Kusal Mendis in his first over and Asalanka at long-on in his third.An inside edge was also the cause of one of the boundaries he gave to de Silva. Rashid was clearly dissatisfied, however, by the time his spell was over (his numbers were 2 for 31), and then things got worse.His knee got stuck in the soft turf of the Gabba as he slid to stop a ball on the boundary with Sri Lanka on the verge of victory, causing him to appear to have sustained a painful injury. He required assistance to leave the field.