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Asia Cup 2023 | Sri Lanka Knock Out Afghanistan; Qualify For Super Four

image-lm6kgfhpKusal Mendis slammed a flamboyant 92 [AP]

The final group fixture of the Asia Cup 2023 belonged to Sri Lanka, who claimed a two-run victory to knock Afghanistan out of the tournament.


Mendis reigns supreme

After opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were on the charge right from the word go. Their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne, made full use of the excellent batting conditions as Sri Lanka raced off to 62 runs without losing any wicket in the powerplay.

However, Gulbadin Naib brought Afghanistan back into the game in six overs. He took three wickets, which included the names of Karunaratne, Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama. 

A 102-run stand ensued for the fourth wicket as the match again turned in Sri Lanka's favour. Kusal Mendis scored an attacking 92-run knock but also became a part of the collapse that the Afghanistan spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman inflicted.

Mendis got dismissed via run-out. Sri Lanka got reduced to 227/7 from 188/3 in the 40th over.

While it looked like Dasun Shanaka and Co. would not be able to post a competitive total on a belter of a wicket, Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana combined to forge a 64-run stand, pushing Sri Lanka to 291/8 in 50 overs.

Sri Lanka survive Nabi scare

image-lm6ki6i0Mohammad Nabi's heroic knock went in vain [AP]

Afghanistan needed to complete the run-chase within 37.1 overs to go through to the Super Fours.

It seemed impossible, however, a record-shattering 32-ball 65 by Mohammad Nabi had Sri Lanka down on the mat. He led an 80-run partnership with Hashmatullah Shahidi that came off 52 deliveries.

Nabi scored fifty in 24 balls, now the fastest for Afghanistan in ODI cricket. Maheesh Theekshana dismissed him as Sri Lanka heaved a sigh of relief. 

Nabi's blitzkrieg significantly brought down the margin of runs required. Afghanistan were seeing the glory. The equation was gettable.

However, it all faded soon after. Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran, and Rashid Khan did try to give the run-chase its final push. Afghanistan, at one stage, needed three runs in one ball in one of the calculations that was there to proceed to the next round. It was this close. But ultimately, Sri Lanka emerged victorious, winning by two runs.


Brief scores

Sri Lanka: 291/8 (50)
Kusal Mendis 92 (84), Pathum Nissanka 41 (40);
Gulbadin Naib 4-60 (10), Rashid Khan 2-63 (10)

Afghanistan: 289 (37.4)
Mohammad Nabi 65 (32), Hashmatullah Shahidi 59 (66);
Kasun Rajitha 4-79 (10), Dhananjaya de Silva 2-12 (1.4) 

Sri Lanka won by two runs.