Defending champion Sri Lanka has entered the Super-4 by winning the last league match of Asia Cup by 2 runs. Batting after winning the toss, Sri Lanka scored 291 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. In reply, Afghanistan team was all out for 289 runs in 37.4 overs. Sri Lanka has all out its opponent for the 12th consecutive time, which is a world record. This is also Sri Lanka's 12th consecutive win in ODIs, the team's last defeat was against Afghanistan in June this year.
If Afghanistan team had scored 292 runs in 37.1 overs, it would have reached Super-4. This calculation was correct; But at the same time, even if the team had scored 295 runs in 37.4 overs, it would have reached Super-4, but the team did not know the second equation.
The team's score was 289/9 in 37.1 overs. That is, if 6 or more runs were scored on the next three balls, the team would have reached the next round; But team's number-11 batsman Fazal Haq Farooqui did not play accordingly. He did not show any urgency to take runs on balls number 37.2 and 37.3, while Rashid Khan was present at the other end. Rashid had scored 27 runs on 16 balls. Had he got strike, he could have completed the work of the team.
Farooqui neither made any effort to hit the big shot nor gave strike to Rashid. He knew that now he may get a win, but the team cannot qualify. Farooqi was also dismissed on 37.4 November ball. He played three dot balls and Afghanistan lost the match and also lost their chance to qualify. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have qualified from Group B.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Sri Lanka got off to a great start by the openers. The team scored 62 runs in 10 overs without losing any wicket. Nissanka remained unbeaten on 30 and Karunaratne on 32 runs.
Sri Lankan openers made a half-century partnership. The pair of Karunaratne and Nissanka shared a 63-run partnership for the first wicket off 62 balls.
Kusal Mendis played an innings of 92 runs, while Pathum Nissanka scored 41 runs. Charith Asalanka contributed 36 and Dimuth Karunaratne contributed 32 runs. Gulbadin Naib took four wickets, while Rashid Khan got two successes.
Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis scored his 23rd half-century in ODI career. He scored 92 runs in 84 balls at a strike rate of 109.52. Mendis's innings included 6 fours and 3 sixes.
Chasing the target of 292 runs, the Afghanistan team got off to a bad start. The team lost the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the third over itself. Ibrahim Zadran also got bowled in the fifth over. Kasun Rajitha took both the wickets. Gulbadin Naib, who landed at number three, scored a quick 22 runs, but he was also dismissed in the 9th over. The team scored 58 runs losing 3 wickets in 10 overs.
After losing the wicket of Rahmat Shah in the 19th over, Mohammad Nabi came out to bat at number-6. He started attacking from the first ball and completed Fifty in just 24 balls. This is the fastest fifty for Afghanistan in ODI. He broke the record of Mujeeb Ur Rehman, who scored a fifty against Pakistan in 26 balls.
Nabi became the victim of Mahish Teekshana after scoring 65 runs. He also shared an 80-run partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi in just 47 balls.
First (Rahmanullah Gurbaz-4): Kasun Rajitha bowled the second ball of the third over short pitch outside the off stump. Rahmanullah Gurbaj went to cut, but was caught by the wicketkeeper.
Second (Ibrahim Zadran - 7 runs): Last ball of the 5th over, Kasun Rajitha bowled a fuller length outside off stump. Ibrahim Zadran gets bowled.
Third (Gulbadin Naib - 22 runs): Mathish Pathirana bowled the first ball of the 9th over on a good length. Naib became LBW.
Fourth (Rahmat Shah - 45 runs): The fourth ball of the 19th over, Kasun Rajitha bowled a good length slower on the middle stump. Rahmat Sham was caught at mid-on.
Fifth (Mohammad Nabi- 65 runs): Teekshana got caught by Karunaratne on the third ball of the 27th over.
Sixth: (Karim Jannat- 22 runs): Dunith Velalge got caught by Karunaratne on the first ball of the 32nd over.
Seventh: (Shahidi- 59 runs): Dunit Velalge got caught by Rajitha on the 5th ball of 32 overs.
Eighth (Najibullah Zadran- 23 runs): Caught out on the fourth ball of the 36th over. Kasun Rajitha took the wicket of Najeeb.
Ninth (Mujeeb Ur Rehman – 0 Run): Went for a big shot on the first ball of the 38th over, but was caught at long on.
Tenth (Fazal Haq Farooqui - 0 runs): LBW on the fourth ball of the 38th over.
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