Sloppy. Reckless. Casual. Three words summed up Sri Lanka’s stay at the 14th edition of Asia Cup – their shortest ever in recent times. The five-time champions were knocked out of the Asia Cup after losing first to Bangladesh and then to Afghanistan in a matter of two days.

Chasing a target of 250, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 158 in 41.3 overs as Afghanistan confirmed a spot in the super four stages of the tournament along with Bangladesh.

Kusal Mendis was the first to go for his second duck of the tournament when 17-year-old Mujeeeb-Ur-Rahman set the ball rolling for Afghanistan on a pitch tailor-made for their spinners. Sri Lanka though, quickly shrugged off the disappointment through Upul Tharanga and Dhananjaya de Silva with the duo putting on a 54-stand for the second wicket before calamity struck.

It came when Sri Lanka pressed the self-destruction button. Dhanjaya de Silva got himself run out after he and Tharanga ended up on one end due to a horrible mix-up. The fact that de Silva got run out on the end he was running and not Tharanga, would leave any professional cricketer, let alone an international one embarrassed.

The destruction mode continued with Kusal Perera (17) trying to sweep a Yorker in Rashid Khan’s first over and Tharanga (36) attempting a wild heave in the next over off Gulbadin Naib. At 88 for four, Sri Lanka were in desperate search of a partnership. It did look like coming for a brief period until the self-destruction mode returned.

Another horrible mix-up saw Shehan Jayasurya walking back to the pavilion for 14 and the writing was on the wall. Afghanistan sensed it and their spin trio of Mujeeb, Nabi and Rashid Khan seized it.

The Afghans swept the Lankan tail with Nabi, Mujeeb striking in tandem. Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 50 runs.

For Afghanistan, Mujeeb, Nabi, Naib and Rashid picked up two wickets apiece. This was Afghanistan's first win against Sri Lanka and their fourth against a Test playing nation.

Afghanistan innings

Thisara Perera led the Sri Lankan fightback with a five-wicket haul after Rahmat Shah had laid a solid foundation with a superb half-century to bowl Afghanistan out for 249 in their must-win Group B match of the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Perera returned with figures of 5/55 as Sri Lanka picked up seven wickets in the last eight overs of Afghanistan innings on a pitch that looked to be on the slower side.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, Afghanistan rode on a solid opening partnership by experienced Mohammad Shahzad and Ihsanullah. The duo did a fine job in keeping Malinga away from wickets column who had jolted Bangladesh’s top-order in the other night.

Akila Dhananjaya made the first breakthrough when he had Shahzad trapped in front of the wicket. It was a loose shot and attempting to reverse sweep a length ball proved to be his undoing.

There was another half-century stand, between Ihsanullah and Shah, as the Afghanistan dressing room looked Relaxed at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

However, Sri Lanka found another wicket after the two batsmen added exactly 50 runs for the second wicket. Umpire Gregory Brathwaite was not impressed with Akila's shout for an lbw, prompting the Sri Lankans to go for a review, and got the decision in their favour.

Returning to the side after missing the tournament opener against Bangladesh, off-spinner Akila returned with tidy figures of 2/37 in his 10-overs spell on a wicket that played slow, making stroke-making difficult.

Skipper Asghar Afghan came to the middle, but his stay was short-lived as Shehan Jayasuriya foxed him, the two wickets in as many overs reducing Afghanistan to 110 for three at he end of the 26th over.

An 80-run partnership ensued between Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi (37), helping Afghanistan to 190 when Dushmantha Chameera sent the Afghan top-scorer back to the pavilion. Shah's knock included five hits to the fence.

Shahidi was the next man to get out, falling to Perera. Mohammad Nabi scored 12-ball 15 before the seasoned Lasith Malinga cut short his stay in the middle.

The Lankan pulled back things in the death, picking up seven wickets, with Thisara doing the bulk of damage.