It was a nail-biting thriller clash between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, as the island nation won the match by two runs in Lahore to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup. Requiring to chase down a 292-run target in 37.1 overs to keep their hopes alive in the competition, Afghanistan came quite close to the target but then ended up making 289 in 37.4 overs.
All-rounder Mohammad Nabi was the star with the bat as he made the fastest ODI fifty for Afghanistan, taking just 24 deliveries to reach the milestone. He departed for 65(32) but Afghanistan kept the battle on. The Afghan batters started slow because of Lankan pacers Kasun Rajitha and Matheesha Pathirana gave early blows. However, a solid 40-ball 45 by Gulbadin Naib ensured Afghanistan remained in the hunt.
For Sri Lanka, pacer Kasun Rajitha took four wickets while Dunith Wellalge picked up two wickets. Earlier, Sri Lanka’s batter Kushal Mendis outplayed all the Afghanistan bowlers specially ace spinner Rashid Khan, and ended up making 92 runs. On the back of his knock, Sri Lanka managed to post 291 for eight in the group-deciding Asia Cup game on Tuesday.
Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka (41) and Dimuth Karunaratne (32) gave a solid start to the innings before being dismissed by medium pacer Gulbadin Naib. Coming to bat at number three, Mendis then put Sri Lanka on course for a 300-plus total with his 92 runs knock including six boundaries and three sixes.
For Afghanistan, Gulbadin scalped four wickets while Rashid Khan picked up two wickets.
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana.