Sri Lanka escaped with a two-run victory and certified for the Super 4 within the Asia Cup after Afghanistan considerably miscalculated its chase of a troublesome goal within the final group sport on Tuesday.
Afghanistan was poised to knock Sri Lanka out of the event on web run-rate because it wanted to realize a 292-run goal in 37.1 to advance from Group B with Bangladesh.
Mohammad Nabi elevated Afghan hopes with a blistering 65 off 32 balls as he raised his nation’s quickest half-century off 24 balls earlier than he fell within the twenty seventh over when Dhananjaya de Silva made an excellent operating catch within the outfield.
Karim Jannat (22), Najibullah Zadran (23) and Rashid Khan (27 not out) saved pushing on Sri Lanka tempo and spin with little cameos earlier than Mujeeb Ur Rahman holed out at lengthy on as Afghanistan slumped to 289-9 in 37.1 overs.
Afghanistan apparently was unaware of the calculation that it might nonetheless make it to the Super 4 had they reached 295 over the subsequent three balls.
No. 11 batter Fazalhaq Farooqi defended the subsequent two balls of part-time spinner de Silva earlier than getting trapped lbw off the subsequent ball that left Rashid stranded on the non-striker’s finish and Afghanistan was bowled out for 289 in 37.4 overs.
Nabi confirmed loads of aggression in opposition to the tempo of Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana by hitting 5 sixes and 6 boundaries in his knock earlier than he lastly holed out with Afghanistan nonetheless needing 91 runs for victory.
Fast bowler Kasun Rajitha picked up 4-79, that included two early wickets, however the quick bowler went for many in opposition to Afghan batters, who saved Sri Lanka bowlers beneath strain with aggressive photographs.
“Very disappointed about it,” stated Hashmatullah Shahidi, who additionally scored 59 off 66 balls. “We fought well (and) we gave our 100 percent. I am proud of the team, the way they played and fought till the last ball.”
Earlier, Kusal Mendis missed out on a century however his 92 off 84 balls and a half-century stand between Dunith Wellalage (33 not out) and Maheesh Theekshana (28) farmed Sri Lanka’s whole of 291-8 after captain Dasun Shanaka received the toss and elected to bat.
Pathum Nissanka (41) and Dimuth Karunaratne (32) offered a strong begin of 63 earlier than Gulbadin Naib’s (4-60) triple strike throughout his seven-over spell in scorching and humid climate of Lahore diminished Sri Lanka to 86-3.
But Mendis rebuild the innings in a 102-run stand with Charith Asalanka (36) earlier than Rashid had the latter caught off his personal bowling and de Silva was clear bowled by Mujeeb. Mendis was unlucky to overlook out on the century when he was run out after Rashid dropped Shanaka off his personal bowling however the ball rolled again onto the stumps on the non striker’s finish with Mendis nicely wanting his crease.
Wellalage and Theekshana then mixed in a 54-run eighth wicket stand and edged nearer to the 300-run mark.
“A couple of wickets opened the door for us,” Shanaka stated. “Nabi took the game away from us. However, we ended up winning, that’s what is important.”
Pakistan will tackle Bangladesh within the first Super 4 sport at Lahore on Wednesday earlier than the event strikes to Sri Lanka for the remaining 5 Super 4 video games and the ultimate scheduled for September 17.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
