Asia Cup 2022 Championship: Sri Lanka VS Afghanistan - Bhanuka Rajapaksa's cool-hitting helps Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka won the match by four wickets after successfully chasing a high target of 176; the highest target successfully chased against Afghanistan. The target looked extremely challenging on the Dubai pitch, but they were very much into the game from the beginning

Sri Lanka got off to a flying start fetching 62 runs in 6.3 overs before losing their first wicket as Kusal Mendis fired 36 off 19. A 35-run knock from Pathum Nissanka and 33 runs from Danushka Gunathilaka gave the Sri Lankan chase game stability.

Middle-order power hitters Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 14) and Wanindu Hasaranga (9-ball 16*) took Sri Lanka to a 4-wicket win with five balls to spare. Their powerful cameo failed Afghanistan's powerful bowling attack.

Afghanistan bowlers had a day off as their key bowler Rashid Khan went for 39 runs in 4 overs. Only Mujeeb ur Rahman managed a 7.50 economy, scalping two wickets, and the rest Sri Lankan power-hitters hammered the rest.

Earlier in the game, Afghanistan also got a decent start with their openers. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz stitched a mammoth 93-run partnership at the second wicket to accelerate the inning as Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 84 runs in 45 balls. Post the fall of both these set batters; the middle-order could not get going and add runs as Sri Lankan bowlers restricted them to 175/6 in 20 overs.

Sri Lankan bowlers were clinical with their death-over bowling as they conceded just 37 runs in the last five overs, which made all the difference at the end.

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka said, "It's the belief of the dressing room; we believe we can chase anything in these kinds of wickets. We can always analyse the wicket better when chasing."

Sri Lanka will clash next with India on the 6th of September, but Sunday will bring the high-end clash between India and Pakistan again in Dubai. Afghanistan's next fixture against Pakistan is on the 7th of September at Sharjah.