Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2022 Match 1, Stats Review: Fazalhaq Farooqi's best figures, Afghanistan’s landmark match, and other stats

Fazalhaq Farooqi recorded his career-best figures of 3/11 in 3.4 overs with one maiden as Afghanistan marked their milestone 100th T20 international match with a resounding and emphatic victory by eight wickets against Sri Lanka in the opening fixture of Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai. Spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi also took two wickets apiece as the Lankan Lions got bowled out for just 105 in 19.4 overs. Afghanistan openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 37* and 40 respectively as they reached the target in just 10.1 overs.

Speaking about how the tournament opener panned out, skipper Nabi won the toss and elected to field first. Sri Lanka’s opening batters Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis amassed three and two respectively while Charith Asalanka bagged a golden duck. Danushka Gunathilaka’s poor run in T20Is continued as he mustered a run-a-ball 17. Bhanuka Rajapaksa top-scored for the Lankan Lions as he smashed 38 off 29 which included five fours and a six. Chamika Karunaratne’s 31 off 38 helped his side in reaching a total of above 100.

Chasing just 106 for the win, the Afghanistan openers came out all gun blazing as they registered the highest-ever powerplay score of 83/0 for their side in T20 internationals, going past the previous best of 74/2 which came against Ireland in the year 2013. Maheesh Theekshana recorded his joint-most expensive spell of 0/35 in the format as the 2014 T20 World Cup champions Sri Lanka suffered an absolute humiliation. Afghanistan got off to a thumping start in the tournament and will now face Bangladesh on August 30, 2022, while Sri Lanka also faces the Bangla Tigers next on September 01. For his match-winning spell, Fazalhaq Farooqi was named the Player of the Match.

Meanwhile, here are some of the important stats and numbers from Match 1 between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022:

 17.82 – Danushka Gunathilaka has scored 695 runs in 39 innings at a poor average of just 17.82 in T20 internationals.

100 – Afghanistan appeared in their landmark 100th T20 international match.

59 – Afghanistan achieved their second-largest victory in terms of balls remaining (59) in the shortest international format. They defeated Ireland with 73 balls to spare at the same venue in the year 2017.

3/11 – Fazalhaq Farooqi recorded his best bowling figures of 3/11 in T20 internationals. His previous best was 3/18 which came against Bangladesh this year.

0/35 – Maheesh Theekshana delivered his joint-most expensive spell of 0/35. He also conceded 1/35 against South Africa in the year 2021.

83/0 – Afghanistan scripted their highest total of 83/0 in the powerplay in T20Is. Their previous highest was 74/2 against Ireland in the year 2013.

2 – Dasun Shanaka now has the second-most ducks (9) for Sri Lanka in the T20 internationals.

3 – Shanaka registered his third golden duck in 65 T20I innings.

50 – Pathum Nissanka featured in his 50th international match.