A contrast from their first meeting in the group stage, Sri Lankan batsmen rose to the challenge as they beat Afghanistan by 4 wickets in the first Super 4 encounter.
Having opted to bowl, Sri Lanka struggled in the early overs as Afghanistan got off to a flyer. While Hazratullah Zazai perished for 13, Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a blinder.
The wicket-keeper batsman smashed 84 off 45 balls, and his partner Ibrahim Zadran held the other end up. But Ibrahim’s 38-ball 40 probably didn’t help Afghanistan’s cause as Sri Lanka managed to pull things back at the end.
Chasing 176 for victory, the Islanders got off to a great start, scoring 57/0 in the powerplay. Afghanistan, however, crawled back into the game when Sri Lanka stuttered in the middle overs, losing wickets at regular intervals.
The game was in the balance when Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka got out in the 15th over, with the score reading 119/4.
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But Danushka Gunathilaka & Bhanuka Rajapaksa put them in the driver’s seat with some lusty blows. And while they couldn’t finish the game off entirely, Wanindu Hasaranga’s cameo ensured Sri Lanka completed the highest successful run-chase in T20Is in Sharjah.