WC T20 2106 Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan: Talking Points.

The defending champions Sri Lanka haven’t been playing like champions lately but tonight they defeated the easiest opposition they could think of in their group easily. Afghanistan, the so-called minnows, could have pulled off a real upset considering their recent form in qualifying matches for Super 10 stage but Sri lanka defeated Afghanistan by 6 wickets at  Eden Gardens, Kolkata in the their first group stage encounter.

1. Asghar Stanikzai played a captain’s knock.

After the first eleven overs 150 was never on the cards but the skipper made it happen. Take a bow Stanikzai! The Afghan captain scored 62 runs aided by some lustrous shots by Samiullah and last over hits by Nabi. Stanikzai broke the shackles when he took on Siriwardena’s left-arm spin and hit two huge sixes.

2. Shinwari threat

Shinwari threatened to take the game away from Sri Lanka with some hefty blows around the field. He made 31 off juts 13 deliveries to inject life into the team’s innings.
He was dismissed by Kulasekara but did what he was expected to do. Out of the total seven sixes, four came from Shinwari’s bat.

3. Tilakratne Dilshan recovery

Dilshan has been amazing in this match. He truly deserved the man of the match with his unbeaten knock of 83 runs off 56 balls. He responded in a superb fashion to the critics who questioned his place albeit having dropped the Afghanistan captain once.

4. Afghanistan’s fielding.

Afghanistan showed some tremendous fielding today. The only funda that had gone on throughout this match was: Get Dilshan, rest is yours. Afghanistan sniffeds an opportunity as they run-out Kapugedera before Shahzad’s direct throw dismissed the pinch-hitter, Thisara Perera.

Sachin Tendulkar Tweeted:
‘Absolutely amazed by the way Afghanistan have been in the field today. International standard play. Get Dilshan & you’re through. #SLvAFG’