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The target looked far from reach at one point of time.Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi changed the game. Nabi specifically ended up playing a blinder. After Nabi and Shahidi's dismissal, Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran and Rashid Khan provided their combined efforts but still fell short by a short margin. Afghanistan seemed to be unaware of the equations in the end and the confusion led them to lose the match from a position of winning with 13 overs to spare. Hard luck for the Afghans as Sri Lanka hold their nerve and qualify for the Super Four stage.
Najibullah Zadran and Rashid Khan on the crease as the game comes down to a cliffhanger. It wasn't expected to come to this but first Mohammad Nabi's knock and then Dunith Wellalage's over has brought the game to this juncture. Afghanistan need 27 runs in 13 deliveries to qualify for Super four stage knocking out Sri Lanka.
Out! Game changing over from Dunith Wellalge. Picks up the wicket of Karim Janat, who looked dangerous since his arrival on the crease and the well set skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. Afghanistan now need 54 runs in 30 balls.
Mohammad Nabi played a memorable knock in a crisis situation and propelled Afghanistan to a position from where they can think of a victory. Some of the shots he played were outright unbelievable and completed his fifty in just 24 deliveries, becoming the scorer of fastest fifty for Afghanistan in ODIs. Ultimately, he fails to clear the rope and gets caught at the boundary line.
Out! Afghanistan have definitely found Kasun Rajitha difficult to negotiate and they lose Rahmat Shah as he tries to take on the bowler trying to accelerate. The run rate pressure grows on Afghanistan as a new batter comes in.
Afghanistan continue to fight despite their task getting increasingly difficult. They now need 172 runs in just 19.1 overs with only seven wickets in hand. Sri Lanka at this situation will back themselves to go over the line.
Gulbadin Naib and Rahmat Shah staged a short period of counterattack after the wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran but Naib fell in the first over of Matheesha Pathirana. Afghanistan keep going their desperate attempt to keep the scoring rate brisk while Sri Lanka maintain control.
Out! Body blow for Afghanistan as the spine of the chase is broken by Kasun Rajitha in his opening spell. He picks up the wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran within first five overs. Afghanistan have a huge ground to cover now and the task seems extremely uphill from here.
Exceptional batting from the Sri Lankan lower order batters as they have put together a 64-run partnership after they were 227/7. Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana played some exceptional shots taking Sri Lanka near to 300. They will enter the break with momentum. Afghanistan need to chase this score within 37.1 overs to go past the net run rate of Sri Lanka.
Out! Two big wickets in one over. Maybe the only way Kushal Mendis would have got out and it has happened. Rashid Khan manages to get his fingers on the straight drive from Dashun Shanaka and the ball crashes on the non-striker end stumps Kushal Mendis' bat in air. Massive breakthrough for Afghans. Rashid immediately follows it by dismissing Dasun Shanaka too.
Sri Lanka will take on Afghanistan in the group stage clash of Asia Cup 2023 on Tuesday, September 5 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Sri Lanka are entering into the contest, having trumped Bangladesh by five wickets. Despite missing some key bowlers, the Lankan Lions produced a sensational bowling display to bundle out Shakib Al Hasan & Co. in below-par total. On the batting front, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka showed their class to help the defending champions kick-start their campaign with a win. They would look to keep up the good work and outclass Afghanistan to book a spot in the next round. However, even if they lose the game by a small margin, they will still be able to progress to the Super Fours courtesy of their superior run rate. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill Star As India Secure Dominating Ten-Wicket Victory Over Nepal, Qualify For Super Four Stages of Asia Cup 2023
Afghanistan on the other hand were mediocre with both bat and ball in their tournament opener against Bangladesh and eventually, succumbed to an 89-run defeat. Due to the huge loss, Afghanistan’s net run rate has taken a hit and hence, they need to register a huge win against Sri Lanka to secure a berth to the playoffs. With backs against the wall, they would need to put a complete performance in the do-or-die clash on Tuesday. The likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi need to put up an inspired performance with the ball while skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran need to deliver the goods with bat. One can expect Shahidi & Co. to come all guns blazing in the forthcoming match.
Squads
Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Perera, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemantha
Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Riaz Hassan, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi
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