Afghanistan faltered in front of Hasranga and Lahiru Kumara’s bowling, scored 144 runs for eight wickets

Sri Lanka restricted Afghanistan to 144 for eight in their Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup here on Tuesday, with the bowlers led by spinner Wanindu Hasaranga performing brilliantly. Afghanistan got off to a good start after winning the toss and batting first but after that they lost wickets at regular intervals. For him, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 28 and Usman Ghani scored 27 runs. For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga took three for 13 in four overs while fast bowler Lahiru Kumara took two wickets for 30 runs in four overs. The ball was swinging in the first two overs but after that the Sri Lankan bowlers could not control their length in the power play overs.

Gurbaz meanwhile adopted an aggressive attitude. The wicket-keeper batsman hit a six on Kasun Rajita and continued his stormy stance as Afghanistan scored 42 runs in six overs of the power play. However, Kumara gave Sri Lanka their first breakthrough soon after the power play. Gurbaz looked in position to play a big innings but Kumara took the ball between his bat and pad and bowled him. After this the spinners took charge and curbed the run-rate. Ghani meanwhile hits Kumara for a six at long off.

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He then threw a catch at deep midwicket in an attempt to hit Hasranga for a six. Kumara then took his second wicket in the form of Ibrahim Zadran (22). Captain Mohammad Nabi (13) also could not last long. Sri Lanka’s fielding was not good but despite this, Afghanistan could only manage 40 runs in the last 30 balls and in the meantime they lost five wickets.