Afghanistan posted a total of 209 runs in the first half innings of the final T20 against Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan made a blazing start with both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (70), and Hazratullah Zazai (45) attacking the Sri Lankan bowlers from the outset.

Gurbaz, in particular, survived an early scare but capitalized on it to score a scintillating half-century, while Zazai also contributed with a quick start before falling short of his fifty. Despite a brief hiccup with the dismissal of Zazai, Afghanistan continued to pile on the runs, with Gurbaz leading the charge with a brilliant 70 off just 43 deliveries. 

Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi provided valuable support in the middle overs, with Omarzai playing the aggressor’s role and Nabi anchoring the innings.

Sri Lanka’s bowling effort was a bit disappointing, especially in the initial stages of the innings where they struggled to contain the Afghan openers, conceding 72 runs in the Powerplay. A missed opportunity with Akila Dananjaya dropping Rahmanullah Gurbaz proved costly for them. However, they managed to stage a comeback in the middle overs, with their spinners, particularly Akila and skipper Wanindu Hasaranga, making crucial breakthroughs. Despite some expensive spells from the pacers, Dasun Shanaka stood out with his economical bowling. 

Matheesha Pathirana’s impressive penultimate over, where he picked up two wickets and came close to a hat-trick, provided a late surge for the hosts.