Asia Cup: SL vs AFG Review – Afghan’s chase for Super 4 fell short as Sri Lanka advances

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan squared off in the final match of Group B on Tuesday, September 5 in Lahore. Hashmatullah Shahidi and Co. needed a big win against Sri Lanka to get into the Super Fours but they eventually fell short to go back with an agonising exit from the tournament.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start as their openers stitched a 63-run stand. Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne could not convert their starts but Kusal Mendis played a brilliant knock of 92 off 84 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter hit six fours and three sixes in his innings. Charith Asalanka supported him well with a stylish 43-ball 36.

Sri Lanka suffered a mini-collapse as they went from 221/4 to 227/7. However, the eighth-wicket partnership between Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana helped the Lankan Lions get to 291/8 at the end of their 50 overs. The 20-year-old Wellalage showed maturity beyond his age as he scored a 39-ball 33* while Theekshana hit 28 off 24.

Afghanistan had to chase the total in 37.1 overs or less to push their Net Run Rate above Sri Lanka and qualify for the Super Fours. The in-form Afghan opening duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran perished early. However, Gulbadin Naib, who picked up four wickets with the ball, hit a 16-ball 22 to show the Sri Lankan bowlers that Afghanistan were in it to win it. Rahmat Shah also showed intent during his knock of 45 off 40 balls.

However, it was the quickfire 80-run partnership between Hashmatullah Shahidi and Mohammad Nabi that gave the Afghans hope of a historic win. Nabi’s 32-ball 65-run knock was studded with six fours and five sixes. After his dismissal, Karim Janat added 22 runs off just 13 balls. Rashid Khan remained stranded on 27 off 16 balls but Afghanistan were bowled out for 289, losing by two runs.

Best batter of the match

Mohammad Nabi: The 38-year-old found the middle of the bat at will and hit some exquisite shots. He broke Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s record for the fastest ODI fifty registered by an Afghan batter. His knock instilled the belief in the rest of the batters that the daunting target was well within their reach.

Best bowler of the match

Gulbadin Naib: The all-rounder was sensational, taking three wickets in quick succession as Sri Lanka slipped from 63/0 to 86/3. He came back to dismiss Theekshana off the last ball of the Sri Lankan innings. Naib finished with figures of 4/60 in his 10 overs. A great effort on a pitch where bowlers did not have too much assistance from the pitch.

What’s next for the two teams: Afghanistan have been knocked out of the tournament. They will play a couple of warm-up matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka prior to the ODI World Cup. Sri Lanka will join Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan in the Super Fours of the Asia Cup.