Asia Cup 2018: Twitter Trolls Sri Lanka As Afghanistan Dump Them Out Of Asia Cup

It was a great performance by Afghanistan as they won their opening clash against Sri Lanka quite comprehensively by 91 runs to thrash Sri Lanka out of the tournament. The Afghan bowlers were quite spectacular and restricted the Lankan batsmen quite brilliantly. As I mentioned in my pre-match predictions, Afghanistan will be a tough nut to crack and it eventually turned out that way.

After batting first, the Afghans posted a competitive total of 249 on the board. It was a great effort by Afghanistan in the end to post a total close to 250. The opening duo of Mohammad Shehzad and Ihsanullah Janat began quite brilliantly. The duo shared a 56 runs stand before the dismissal of Shehzad. Rahmat Shah looked in superb touch and scored a brilliant 72 of 90 balls.

Afghanistan bowled brilliantly

The Lankan bowlers bowled well in the middle overs. Eventually, the Afghans posted a competitive total of 249. It was a good total especially given the fact that Sri Lanka found it quite difficult against Bangladesh. Thisara Perera was the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers bagging 5 wickets. The Lankans was always going to find it difficult to chase the target down.

Sri Lanka got off to the worst possible start as they lost the wicket of Kusal Mendis in the very first over From there on Upul Tharanga batted sensibly. However, the Afghanistan bowlers bowled brilliantly in the middle overs and kept taking wickets on regular intervals.  They were eventually bowled out in the 43rd oer handing Afghanistan a superb victory by a convincing margin of 91 runs.

Here are some of the reactions on Twitter:

Will Afghanistan beating Sri Lanka be called an upset? #SLvAFG #AsiaCup @StarSportsIndia

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 17, 2018

Five time champions Sri Lanka are out of the #AsiaCup2018 even before one of the participating side (India) have played their first match. This is quite a unique situation in an international tournament!#AsiaCup#SLvAFG #AFGvSL

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 17, 2018

do Afghanistan realise they are ruining the possibility of an India-Sri Lanka game? #SLvAFG #AsiaCup

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 17, 2018

Afghanistan Beat Sri Lanka By 91 Runs. 2 Setbacks In 2 Days.???#PAKvHK #SLvAFG #INDvPAK #AsiaCup18

— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) September 17, 2018

As a country we talk about our history so proudly about the ruins in historical cities and so on. We could start doing the same about cricket. Its all over folks #heartBroken #SLvAFG

— Saminda Kularathne (@KSSKsam) September 17, 2018

Five wickets haul in ODIs in last 10 years
Thisara Perera – 4
All Indian pacers – 4#SLvAFG

— JSK (@imjsk27) September 17, 2018

One point to Note- Sri Lankan players do not play in the IPL and hence may not have tactical game plans against such high quality mystery spinners. #SLvAfg

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) September 17, 2018

Over The Years, Improvement In Afghanistan Team Is Directly Proportional To Deterioration In Sri Lankan Team. #SLvAFG #AFGvSL #AsiaCup18

— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) September 17, 2018

So Sri Lanka will be knocked out of the Asia Cup before the defending champions India even begin their title defence #SLvAFG

— Narbavi (@Narbavi) September 17, 2018

How long before ODI results with Sri Lanka will ignore the opposition and read as: Sri Lanka defeated Sri Lanka #SLvAfg

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) September 17, 2018

Crisis under which SriLanka Cricket is going through can be determined that Afghanistan after scoring 249 is declared winner by cricketing experts.

Moreover with half of th wickets fallen down, a demand of taking Test status from SriLanka has also blasted.??? #AsiaCup #SLvAFG

— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) September 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/Karmic_Slave/status/1041736616564477952

Kushal Mendis – 3rd ODI duck in his last six innings (with 2 in a row now!) – two golden ducks and one silver duck!#AFGvSL #SLvAFG #AsiaCup2018

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 17, 2018

If Afghanistan do upset Sri Lanka today, it will mean the Lankans going home before India have even played a ball. It's how the Asia Cup has been scheduled, but would feel odd for one team to have exited a tournament when another side has not even begun theirs #afgvSL #SlvAFG

— thecricketblog (@thecricblogger) September 17, 2018

Angelo Mathews in running between the wickets ?? #AngeloMathews #SLvAFG #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/fsr8WtOWGa

— Jai Rohit Sharma ?? (@madam_jadeja) September 17, 2018

For all his aggressive batting, Mohd Shahzad could manage just 34 runs in 47 balls. All the while it seemed, he made 47 runs in 34 balls! #AFGvSL #SLvAFG #AsiaCup2018

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 17, 2018

Accept the fact, we are not poor but mediocre !!#SLvAFG #AsiaCup2018
We will lose to even Hong Kong, PNG or Bhutan U 19 if we play with this mentality.

No brain, no focus, no fighting spirit !
This is not our team which fights till the end !

— Loshan – ARVLOSHAN (@ARVLoshan) September 17, 2018

Can't bat
Can't ball
Can't run
Can't captain
What a waste !#SLvAFG

— Zafran Zahir (@zafran_z) September 17, 2018