Asia Cup 2022, AFG vs SL: Where did Afghanistan lose the match?

image-l7m9a43eSri Lanka emerged victorious against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup (PC: Twitter)

Sri Lanka faced Afghanistan in the first match of the super four of Asia Cup 2022. It was a shot at redemption for the ‘Lankan Lions’ after they were thrashed by the same opposition in the group stage. 

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field first. Afghanistan on the back of Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 84 off 45 and Ibrahim Zadran’s 40 off 38 posted a total of 175 runs in their 20 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. 

In reply Sri Lanka got off to a great start and were stationed at 57 without loss at the end of the power plays. But the Afghan bowlers slowly crawled back into the match. 

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the game changer

image-l7m9pv2lBhanuka Rajapaksa changed the course of the match (PC: Twitter)

Afghanistan got the Sri Lankans down to 119 for 4 at the beginning of the 15th over. Also, the man who helped them across the line in the last match, skipper Dasun Shanaka was back in the hut. With 57 runs needed off 35 deliveries in walked, Bhanuka Rajapaksa. 

The Over that changed the course of the match

At the end of the 15th over Sri Lanka were 127 for 4. They needed 49 runs off 30 balls at this stage. 

Mohammad Nabi entrusted Naveen Ul Haq for this over. In the first three balls Rajapaksa slammed Naveen for a couple of fours and six. 14 runs off the first three balls and the pressure was off the Sri Lankan batters. 

The catch that cost the match

image-l7m9rjhzShinwari dropped an easy chance of Rajapaksa

On the last ball of the 15th over, Naveen Ul Haq bowled a full delivery outside the off stump. Rajapaksa played a lofted off drive which went straight into the hands of Shamiullah Shinwari at deep covers. But he dropped the catch and probably the match with it.

How costly was the catch?

At that stage Rashid Khan, the prime Afghan bowler had one more over of his quota left. In that over Rashid picked up the wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka, the other set batter. 

If Rajapaksa was dismissed in the previous over it would have meant two new batters at the crease in Chamika Karunaratne and Wanindu Hasaranga. Although both them are capable of using the long handle, the pressure on them would have been different in Rajapaksa’s absence and the result of the match could have been different. 

Rashid Khan’s poor form

image-l7m9stilRashid Khan did not have a great day (PC: Twitter)

The Afghanistan team depend largely on Rashid Khan for their bowling efforts. Given their dependence on him, a spell where he conceded 38 runs in 4 overs while picking up just 1 wicket proved costly for Nabi’s men. 

It was the worst spell for Rashid in T20Is at Sharjah cricket ground and it was his team that had to pay the price. Rashid Khan needs to find his rhythm quickly for Afghanistan to leave an impact in this edition of the Asia Cup. 

Also Read: SL vs AFG: Rajapaksa outclasses Gurbaz to seal a fabulous victory for Sri Lanka