🏏Asia 🏆Cup 2022 Super Four -Match 1 : Sri Lanka v/s Afghanistan 🏏

Super Four: Match 1

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will lock horns in the opening game of the Super 4 stage of the 2022 Asia Cup, to be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium today.

Afghanistan has played excellent cricket and registered back-to-back victories in the competition. Skipper Mohammad Nabi will be hoping that the side can continue its winning streak in this fixture.

On the other hand, the Islanders managed to qualify for the Super 4 stages of the competition after pulling off a heist over Bangladesh. Skipper Dasun Shanaka will be hoping that the side can produce their best cricket in this all-important clash.

After delivering two victories on the bounce, Afghanistan will be keen to continue their winning ways in the Super 4 stages of the competition.

In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi to deliver the bulk of the runs in this fixture.

In the previous match against Bangladesh, Kusal Mendis played well and finished the innings with the top score of 60 runs off 37 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes. He was well-supported by Captain Dasun Shanaka, who chipped in with a solid 45 runs off 33 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madhushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, and Wanindu Hasaranga to provide timely breakthroughs. In the previous match, pacer Chamika Karunaratne bowled well and claimed 2 for 32 in his four overs.

A thrilling all-around performance saw Afghanistan crush Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the first game of the 2022 Asia Cup, where the entire Sri Lankan team folded after scoring only 105 and the Afghans chased it down in only 10.1 overs.

It is going to be an interesting encounter between these two teams to watch! ⭐️

Sri Lanka Predicted XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando.

Afghanistan Predicted XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi (c), Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Based on the current form, Afghanistan be outright favourites to win their game against the inconsistent Sri Lankan side. With the likes of Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, and Hazratullah Zazai in decent touch with the bat, Mohammad Nabi-led Afghanistan will be keen to dominate the proceedings against the Islanders.

The Afghanistan bowlers led by the world’s top leg spinner Rashid Khan partnered by off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman along with the pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq being in the red hot form will pose a threat to Sri Lankan batters who folded for only 105 in the Asia Cup 2022 opening game against the same opponents.

But, Sri Lankan players are famous for their fighting spirit. On a batting friendly wicket in Dubai, Kusal Mendis's 37-ball 60, Dasun Shanaka's 33-ball 45 and cameos from the lower order helped Sri Lanka prevail.

Thanks for tagging me as well .though I was searching it that what's going on today .

Having confirmed their Super 4 berths, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be looking to start afresh as they look to strengthen their bid to finish among the top two for a place in the Asia Cup final. While Afghanistan qualified for the Super four by registering two successive victories, Sri Lanka had to overcome Bangladesh in a tense encounter to progress further. They'll be hoping to take confidence from an improved batting performance to counter the spin challenge that Afghanistan bring to the table.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have been well served by their top order and Najibullah Zadran has led the way with consistency and dynamic batting at 4/5. Since 2020, Najibullah has scored 614 runs at an average of 40.93 and a strike rate of 151.6, with five fifties. With Ibrahim Zadran assigned the anchor's role and the rest having the liberty to play a positive brand of cricket, Afghanistan have a settled batting line-up to take on Sri Lanka's relatively inexperienced pace attack. Afghanistan will also take confidence from their opening night win over the same opposition.

They absolutely hammered Sri Lanka that night bowling them out for just 105 and then proceeding to chase that target down inside 11 overs. Sri Lanka's campaign was hanging in the balance post that defeat, from which they managed to recover. But now that they get another crack at Afghanistan, will they redeem themselves?

Spin played a major role in the previous game in Sharjah and it could continue to do so for the Super 4 opener. With both teams having quality slow bowlers in their sides, it will come down to how well the batters handle them. Barring India's win against Hong Kong, teams batting second have emerged victorious so far in the Asia Cup, which makes it an obvious choice for the captain winning the toss.

Head to head: Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have only faced each other twice in T20Is, with both registering a win apiece.

In the absence of their two key pacemen - Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara - Sri Lanka's pace department will be tested. Sri Lanka will look to Dilshan Madushanka and Chamika Karunaratne to showcase the same kind of discipline they bowled with against Bangladesh.

Did you know?

- Najibullah Zadran has the highest strike rate (214.29) and the best boundary percentage (30.3) in the death overs since 2021.

- Kusal Mendis has opened for Sri Lanka only thrice in 2022. He was their top scorer and Player of the Match in two of those games.

Thanks for tag Madhu di.