Mohammad Nabi’s sport 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 in Lahore on Tuesday. Kusal Mendis’ high-quality 92 had pushed Sri Lanka to 291 for eight on the Gadaffi Stadium. As a result of their inferior run fee, Afghanistan wanted to chase down 292 in 37.1 overs and Nabi put them 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 all the way down to 15 runs wanted off seven balls and Rashid Khan elevated the guts fee on both facet of the dressing rooms by discovering three fours off left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage within the 37th over.
At that tense second, Afghanistan wanted three runs off the primary ball of the 38th over with two wickets in hand.
Nonetheless, Mujeeb Zadran’s wicket on the primary ball of the over triggered heartbreak within the Afghanistan camp with the frustration written all around 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 38th 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 grew to become the second workforce to qualify for Super4s from Group B after Bangladesh.
Afghanistan had misplaced their prime three for 50 runs earlier than Nabi produced an innings to recollect whereas batting alongside skipper Hashamatullah Shahidi (59). His particular effort comprised 5 sixes and half a dozen boundaries.
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.
Fairly than the bowlers’ abilities, it was extra in regards to the openers throwing their wickets away after a brilliant starting.
Batting at No 3, Mendis then put Sri Lanka heading in the right direction for a 300 plus complete 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 repute of foxing the most effective within the enterprise.
Mendis had no points choosing his googlies and within the 26th over, labored him for 3 consecutive fours on the leg facet. 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 deserved 100 however was run out in an unlucky with the ball bursting by means of bowler Rashid’s fingers 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 long run, Sri Lanka did nicely to get near the 300-mark because of a 64-run stand for the eighth wicket between Maheesh Theekshana (28) and Dunith Wellalage (33 not out).
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