Connect with us

Sports

Sri Lanka survive Afghanistan scare to reach Asia Cup Super Four

Title-holders Sri Lanka
outlasted a rampaging Afghanistan by just two runs in a dramatic finish to
reach the Asia Cup Super Four stage on Tuesday.

Needing to overhaul a target of 292 in 37.1 overs to oust Sri Lanka on net
run-rate, Afghanistan fell agonisingly short as Mujeeb Ur Rahman holed out with
three needed from the first ball of the 38th over.

They could still have qualified by reaching 295 within 37.4 overs but
appeared to not be aware of that permutation as number 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
blocked out two deliveries before being dismissed while attempting another
defensive shot with six needed to go through.

Mohammad Nabi hit a blistering 32-ball 65 while skipper Hashmatullah
Shahidi made a 66-ball 59.

Rashid Khan hit three boundaries off Dunith Wellalage’s 37th over, but off
the first ball of the next over Mujeeb was caught on the boundary.

Sri Lanka were earlier guided to 291-8 by Kusal Mendis who scored a
brilliant 84-ball 92.

Pakistan and India had already qualified for the Super Four stage from
Group A, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh joining them from Group B.

Pakistan face Bangladesh in Lahore on Wednesday to start the Super Four
stage.

Afghanistan were struggling in the 20th over on 129-4 but Nabi started to
hit out and the situation changed as they added 96 in the next 10 overs.

Nabi, who put on 80 for the fifth wicket with Shahidi, cracked five sixes
and six fours to help Afghanistan get back on track, hitting the fastest ODI
half-century for his country off just 24 balls.

Mujeeb had set the previous record against Pakistan in Sri Lanka last month
off 26 deliveries.

Nabi holed out off Maheesh Theekshana in the 27th over but Shahidi and
Karim Janat (22) kept up the tempo, adding 33 before they both fell in the same
over from Wellalage.

Despite the double blow, Afghanistan did not give up as Najibullah Zadran
(23) and Rashid (27 not out) kept them in contention.

But in a dramatic finish, the Afghan camp did not realise their hopes were
still alive once Mujeeb was dismissed and Sri Lanka progressed.

Earlier, the 28-year-old Mendis played an attractive innings that included
three sixes and six fours to anchor the Sri Lankan innings after they won the
toss and batted first.

Sri Lanka got off to a solid start of 63 for the first wicket between
Pathum Nissanka (41) and Dimuth Karunaratne (32).

Mendis took over and added 102 for the fourth wicket with Charith Asalanka,
who made a 43-ball 36.

But from 186-3 Sri Lanka had a middle-order stutter that saw them lose four
wickets in the space of 41 runs, including that of Mendis who was unluckily run
out.

Rashid dropped a drive from Dasun Shanaka onto the stumps with Mendis short
of his ground at the non-striker’s end.

Wellalage, who scored an unbeaten 33, added an invaluable 64 runs for the
eighth wicket with Theekshana (28).

Gulbadin Naib dismissed Theekshana off the final delivery to finish with
Afghanistan’s best figures of the innings with 4-60. (BSS/AFP)

Advertisement

Trending Now