Mohammad Nabi’s recreation altering 65 off 32 balls got here to nothing as Sri Lanka pulled off an exciting two-run win over an audacious Afghanistan to qualify for the Super4s of the Asia Cup, right here on Tuesday.
Kusal Mendis’ high-quality 92 had pushed Sri Lanka to 291 for eight on the Gadaffi Stadium.
Due to its inferior run fee, Afghanistan wanted to chase down 292 in 37.1 overs and Nabi put it on the cusp of a well-known win by smashing the quickest half-century by an Afghanistan batter in ODIs.
In what turned out to be a riveting end, the qualifying equation got here down to fifteen runs wanted off seven balls and Rashid Khan elevated the center fee on both aspect of the dressing rooms by discovering three fours off left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage within the thirty seventh over.
Also learn | Afghanistan botches chase, unaware of qualification state of affairs
At that tense second, Afghanistan wanted three runs off the primary ball of the thirty eighth over with two wickets in hand.
However, Mujeeb Zadran’s wicket on the primary ball of the over precipitated heartbreak within the Afghanistan camp with the frustration written everywhere in the gamers’ faces within the dressing room.
Such was the extent of their dejection was that they weren’t alert sufficient to know that Afghanistan nonetheless had an opportunity in the event that they hit a six of the next three balls of the thirty eighth over.
Rashid was left stranded on the different finish with Fazalhaq Farooqi trapped in entrance by Dhananjaya de Silva.
Following the shut end, Sri Lanka turned the second workforce to qualify for Super4s from Group B after Bangladesh.
Afghanistan had misplaced its prime three for 50 runs earlier than Nabi produced an innings to recollect whereas batting alongside skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (59). His particular effort comprised 5 sixes and half a dozen boundaries.
Follow | AFG vs SL HIGHLIGHTS
Earlier, Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka (41) and Dimuth Karunaratne (32) gave a brisk begin to the innings earlier than being dismissed by medium pacer Gulbadin Naib.
Rather than the bowlers’ expertise, it was extra in regards to the openers throwing their wickets away after a vivid starting.
Batting at No 3, Mendis then put Sri Lanka on target for a 300 plus whole with a close to flawless effort comprising six boundaries and three sixes.
The spotlight of his chic innings was the consolation with which he performed the wily Rashid, who has constructed a popularity of foxing the very best within the enterprise.
Mendis had no points selecting his googlies and within the twenty sixth over, labored him for 3 consecutive fours on the leg aspect. Later in Rashid’s spell, Mendis made good contact with the leggies’ googly to ship it over lengthy on for a most.
The Sri Lankan batter was run out in an unlucky method with the ball bursting via bowler Rashid’s arms to crash the stumps on the non-striker’s finish, leaving Mendis nicely out of his floor.
His 102-run stand with Charith Asalanka (36 off 43) additional consolidated for Sri Lanka however Afghanistan spinners eliminated Dhananjaya de Silva and skipper Dasuna Shanaka in an area of six balls to decelerate the scoring fee.
In the top, Sri Lanka did nicely to get near the 300-mark due to a 64-run stand for the eighth wicket between Maheesh Theekshana (28) and Dunith Wellalage (33 not out).
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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