SL vs AFG Asia Cup 2022: Afghanistan bowlers shine, Sri Lanka bundled out for 105

Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, spinners Mujeeb Ur Rehman and M Nabi shine as Sri Lanka bundled out for 105 in the Asia Cup 2022 opener at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday. Farooqi picked three wickets while Mujeeb and Nabi took two wickets each. Naveen-ul-Haq also chipped in with one wicket. For Sri Lanka, B Rajapaksa was the highest run scorer with 38 runs to his name in just 29 balls with the help of five boundaries and one four. C Karunaratne also chipped in with 31 valuable runs in 38 balls at the end of the innings. He smashed three fours and a six. 

Skipper removes the Skipper!@MohammadNabi007 removes his opponent counterpart Dasun Shanaka for a first ball duck to give 6th wicket. #AfghanAtalan | #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/yszSFowW3v

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 27, 2022

Afghanistan were in control of the proceedings against Sri Lanka who lost eight wickets after Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamika Karunaratne put up a fight but both were out before reaching forty. Farooqi struck twice in the first over to dismiss Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka before Naveen-ul-Haq got the better of Pathum Nissanka in the next over. Sri Lanka lost their top five batters within 10 overs and the team was tottering at 60/5. The top batting order of Lanka - Pathum Nissanka (3), Kusal Mendis (2) and Charith Asalanka (0) were dismissed cheaply.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Danushka Gunthilaka added 44 runs for the fourth wicket before Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed on 17 runs. Rajapaksa played a crucial knock and his 38 runs which came from 29 deliveries. However, he was run out by Mohammad Nabi. After Rajapaksa's wicket, most of the middle and lower order failed to score and were sent back to the pavilion without any batter getting into double figures. Only Chamika Karunaratne tried to dominate Afghanistan bowlers, playing a crucial knock of 31 runs to take his team's total 100-run mark. Fazalhaq Farooqi took the last wicket to bundle out Sri Lanka for 105 in 19.4 overs on a wicket that appeared friendly for spin attack.

Brief score: Sri Lanka 105 (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 38, Chamika Karunaratne 31; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-11) vs Afghanistan.