Asia Cup: Afghanistan's winning start, Sri Lanka's worst defeat by 8 wickets

The Afghanistan cricket team made a winning start in the Asia Cup by easily defeating the Sri Lankan team by 8 wickets. In the first match o...

The Afghanistan cricket team made a winning start in the Asia Cup by easily defeating the Sri Lankan team by 8 wickets.

In the first match of the Asia Cup being played in Dubai, Afghanistan won the toss and invited sri Lanka to bat first.

Sri Lankan opener Kosal Mendis was left lbw on the fifth ball of the first over off Fazlul Haq Farooqui for just 2 runs.

Fazlul Haque Farooqui gave Sri Lanka their second loss by dismissing Charith Asalinka for a wicket on the next ball.

Naveen-ul-Haq ended opener Pathum Nisanka's 3-run innings on the last ball of his first over from the other end.

Sri Lanka's fourth wicket fell on 49, when Mujibur Rahman had Dhanushka Ganathilaka caught by Jannat Karim, who scored 17 runs.

Mujibur Rahman also dismissed Wanindu Hasuranga on the second ball of the 10th over, while captain Dasan Shanaka became the wicket of Mohammad Nabi without opening his account in the next over.

Sri Lanka's seventh wicket was Bhanuka Rajapakse's 69, after which Mohammad Nabi dismissed Mathisha Pathirana, who had scored 5 runs.

The entire Sri Lankan team was bowled out for 105 on the fourth ball of the last over, handing Afghanistan an easy target.

On behalf of Afghanistan, Fazlul Haq Farooqui took the most 3 wickets, Mujeebur Rahman and captain Muhammad Nabi dismissed 2, 2 players and one wicket went to Naveen ul Haq.

Chasing the target, both Afghanistan openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmatullah Garbaz batted aggressively and scored 83 runs in 6 overs to take the team close to victory.

Rahmatullah Garbaz was the first Afghan batsman to get out after scoring 40 runs off 18 balls with the help of 3 fours and 4 sixes.

Hazratullah Zazai continued to bat responsibly, but Ibrahim Zadran was run out after scoring 15 runs.

Two wickets of Afghanistan fell for 103 runs in the 10th over, but Hazratullah Zazai and Najeebullah Zadran completed 106 runs for no further loss and gave the team victory by 8 wickets easily.

Hazratullah Zazai remained unbeaten with 37 runs and Najeebullah 2 runs.

Earlier in the opening match of the Asia Cup, Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi won the toss and decided to field first.

Both the teams for the match consist of these players.

Sri Lanka: Dasan Shanaka (capt), Patham Nisanka, Kosal Mendis, Charith Asalinka, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Vanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Mahesh Theekshana, Dilshan Medushkan, Mathisha Pathirana.

Afghanistan: Muhammad Nabi (captain), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmatullah Gulbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Jannat, Najeebullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Umarzai, Naveen ul Haq, Mujeebur Rahman, Fazlul Haq Farooqui.