Asia Cup 2022, SL vs AFG: Game Plan

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan to face off in the first match of the super fours of Asia Cup 2022

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will face each other in the first match of the super fours of Asia Cup 2022. The ‘Lankan Lions’ will look to redeem themselves as they were crushed by the Afghans in the group stages. 

Today’s match becomes a very important one for both the teams as a good start in the super four means a smoother journey to the finals of the tournament.

Fazal Haq Farooqi, the man who dismantled Sri Lanka

It was a deadly opening spell by Fazal Haq Farooqui in the opening match of the tournament that derailed the Sri Lankan batting. But there were two conditions that worked in Afghanistan’s favour in that match.

1. The first match was at the Dubai International Stadium and there has been genuine help at the venue for the seamers in the early stages of the match. Same kind of help has not been available at the Sharjah cricket stadium, where today’s match will be played.
2. The biggest positive for the Afghans in the previous match was that they won the toss in the match. After winning the toss they were pretty proactive in taking the advantage of the conditions. But in Sharjah there has been no such visible advantage for the teams batting first. It has been the battle of nerves in the ground so far. 

How should Sri Lanka approach the match? 

1. Sri Lanka have the boost of their opener Kusal Mendis coming into form with a 50 plus score against Bangladesh in the last match. The onus of holding one end and simultaneously keeping the scoreboard ticking will be on Mendis in today’s match
2. Sri Lanka will be wanting explosive middle order batters like Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Charitha Asalanka to come into the equation in today’s match. If these two can provide the dynamism to the Sri Lankan middle order it will make life easier for finishers like Dasuna Shanaka. 

X-Factor

Pathum Nissanka will hold the key for Sri Lanka

The spinners have reaped more of the benefits at the pitch in Sharjah. Given the quality of spinners in the Afghanistan bowling line up, it can be expected that a player who plays spin well might turn out to be the game changer for the Lankan Lions. The records state that Pathum Nissanka could be the man for Sri Lanka tonight. Here are his records against different type of spinners. 

The record against off-spinners is more than decent for Nissanka. But he is a bit weak against leg-spinners. But Nissanka generally struggles against traditional leg spinners. The leg spinner in Afghanistan, Rashid Khan bowls with a flatter trajectory and quicker through the air.

So, if Nissanka survives long enough to face the spinner he might turn out to be the man who tilts the match in Sri Lanka’s favour. 

Also Read: Asia Cup 2022: BAN vs AFG: Game Plan: Areas to target for Afghanistan against Bangladesh