In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 19.1 overs with several small but impactful contributions that sealed the issue for them. This was the highest run-chase in a T20I at Sharjah.
Just like great bowing at the death, the overs between 15-18 yielded 51 runs for the Lankans and that proved to be a finshed The Afghan bowlers, who are not always used to handling pressure situations, did falter in the end and Rashid’s poor day (1/39 in 4 overs) at the office did have its effect.
Put into bat young opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave a brilliant exhibition of his dashing strokeplay as his innings was the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s competitive total of 175 for 6. However, Afghanistan will be a bit disappointed as the last five overs yielded only 37 runs and lost five wickets in a jiffy with GUrbaz’s dismissal putting some sort of a brake on the run flow.