DUBAI: Afghan bowlers wreaked havoc on the Sri Lankan batting line before openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz charged the bowlers to outclass Islanders by eight wickets with 59 balls to spare in the opening match of Asia Cup 2022.
Sri Lanka underwent a complete batting collapse as eight of their batters failed to enter the double figures and the team was bowled on 105 after they were put to bat.
Medium pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi remained inspirational with the ball as he grabbed two early wickets, dismissing Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka in the very first over of the game, with Naveen-ul-Haq getting rid of Pathum Nissanka in the next to reduce Sri Lanka on 5-3.
Despite a brief resistance in the middle powered by Danushka Gunathilaka (17) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (38) with a 44-run partnership, Afghanistan attacked with even greater force, storming through the lower order.
Chamika Karunaratne, on the other hand, played a valiant knock of 31 off 38 late in the order to help the side get past the 100-run mark.
For Afghanistan, Fazalhaq produced the sensational bowling figures of 3/11, while Mujeeb ur Rehman and Mohammad Nabi bagged two wickets each.
Set to chase a paltry total, Afghan openers blasted a powerful 83-run opening partnership with Gurbaz taking a toll on Sri Lankan bowlers as he smashed 40 off 18, hitting three boundaries and four gigantic sixes before Hasaranga De Silva bowled him out.
Zazai, on the other hand, scored an unbeaten 37 off 28, laced with five fours and a six to take his team towards a comprehensive victory in the 11th over for the loss of just two wickets.
With the thumping win, Afghanistan raised its chances to qualify for the next round of the tournament as it will now face Bangladesh in the next encounter of Group B on Tuesday.
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