In a dazzling display of skill, Afghanistan’s star all-rounder Rashid Khan once again captured the spotlight. This time, his magic unfolded at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, September 5th, during a crucial Asia Cup 2023 clash against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team.
The Sri Lankan skipper, Dasun Shanaka, had a forgettable outing with the bat in this high-stakes encounter. Managing just 5 runs off 8 balls, he struck a solitary boundary before succumbing to Rashid Khan’s brilliance.
It was the third ball of the 40th over when Rashid Khan unleashed a 96kph googly, enticing Shanaka into a sweep shot attempt. However, he failed to connect, leaving the ball to elegantly swerve past his bat and pads, ultimately dismantling the stumps.
Rashid Khan, who had remained wicketless in the previous game against Bangladesh, made a triumphant return by snaring two key wickets. Besides Shanaka, he also dismissed Charith Asalanka, while Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka’s middle order. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka’s lower-order heroics propelled them to a formidable total of 291/8.
KARAMATI KHAN! 😍@rashidkhan_19 dents #SriLanka with timely wickets & brings #Afghanistan right back into this contest! 💪🏻
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 5, 2023
Tune-in to #AsiaCupOnStar, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network#AFGvSL #Cricket pic.twitter.com/OsFvXotjh7
Afghanistan faced the daunting challenge of not only defeating Sri Lanka but doing so within 37.1 overs to improve their net run rate and secure a spot in the next round of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023. However, they fell just short of their target, ultimately losing the game by a mere 2 runs. Their negative run rate of -1.780 added to the drama of this thrilling encounter.
