SL VS AFG - Super Four, Match 1 (B1 v B2), Asia Cup 2022

Gurbaz was brilliant earlier in the evening. But this Sri Lankan lineup is batting with a lot of freedom given the depth they have. Superb chase on a sluggish pitch. So that's all from this one. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. It's India vs Pakistan tomorrow, and we'll see you then! Goodbye!

Gurbaz, Player of the Match: Of course disappointed with the result. But it happens. We were short 25 runs. Just tried to play my natural game and be positive. He (Trott) works so hard with us. So happy with him. We will take it from here to the World Cup as well.

Shanaka: It's the belief of the dressing room. As a team we believe we can chase anything on these kind of wickets. When chasing, we have a clear idea of how the wicket behaves. Boys executed the plan very well - Fernando, Hasaranga, Theekshana. Very pleased to see how Mendis and Pathum got started. And the others followed.

Nabi: 20-25 runs short at the end. Also didn't field very well. Also didn't bowl in the right areas. When we played last game against Bangladesh, today the pitch was better (compared to that). We didn't bowl brilliantly, dropped some catches. Situation could have been different.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa: When I went to bat in, it was just a matter of connecting the ball well and running initially, but the wicket seemed quite good, and we thought 175 was a pretty good score. All in all, the boys did a great job and it was a fantastic win for us. In the IPL I have batted at number 3, and coming back to Sri Lanka's squad, they wanted me to bat at number 3 initially, but in order to strengthen the middle-order they wanted me to bat at number 5, or number 6. I am enjoying at the moment. It was a bit of a redemption, because in the last game they managed to get us all out for 105, so we wanted to raise our hands up and show the entire world that we are not as bad we were the other night.

Highest targets successful chased vs Afghanistan
176 SL v Afg Sharjah 2022*
169 Ire v Afg Belfast 2022
163 HK v Afg Abu Dhabi 2015
162 HK v Afg Malahide 2015

Sri Lanka last two matches
Highest run chase in Dubai (184 vs Ban)
Highest run chase in Sharjah (176 vs Afg)*

21:41 Local Time, 17:41 GMT, 23:11 IST: A brilliant chase from Sri Lanka as they win this opening Super Four encounter! The target they were facing seemed to be a very challenging one, but they never let the rate go out of hand. Kusal Mendis got them off to a flier in the powerplay, there were contributions from Gunathalika and Nissanka, before Rajapaksa played the clinching knock. What a cameo that was. Afghanistan's last five overs with the bat yielded only 37 runs, and it's proved costly for them as their bowlers had an off day, especially Rashid Khan who went for 39 in his four overs. They seemed to have the arsenal to defend on a sluggish pitch, just couldn't execute very well, and also dropped catches.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Karunaratne, FOUR, low full toss outside off, Karunaratne hammers it over mid-off and Sri Lanka complete the highest successful T20I chase in Sharjah!

Naveen-ul-Haq to Hasaranga, no run, slower one pitched up on off, Hasaranga pushes to cover and is halfway down looking for a single only to be sent back. There's a throw at the striker's end, Hasaranga has given up, but it misses

Naveen-ul-Haq to Hasaranga, no run, short of length outside off, Hasaranga slaps it hard but it's straight to backward point

Naveen-ul-Haq to Karunaratne, 1 run, pitched up around off, driven to mid-off. Direct hit would've had him but the fielder misses

Chamika Karunaratne, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Naveen-ul-Haq to Rajapaksa, out Bowled!! Rajapaksa is knocked over but it's not going to wipe the smiles off the faces of the Sri Lankan players. He's played a gem here, smashing 31 in no time. This time he swings and misses. It's a slower ball angled in from round the wicket, sneaks under the bat as Rajapaksa goes across the line. Rajapaksa b Naveen-ul-Haq 31(14) [4s-4 6s-1]

Naveen-ul-Haq to Rajapaksa, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Naveen-ul-Haq to Rajapaksa, 2 runs, full around off, flicked through midwicket for two

Naveen-ul-Haq to Rajapaksa, FOUR, oh goodness! Rajapaksa's timing has been on a different level! Full and wide, he throws his hands on the drive and smokes it through the covers

Naveen-ul-Haq [3.0-0-33-1] is back into the attack

Just 8 needed now off 2 overs

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, 2 runs, full and wide, driven through point, back for two

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, FOUR, another slower short ball, and this time Hasaranga gets a thick top-edge that balloons over short third