Cricket Highlights, 06 Sep: Asia Cup 2023 (Match 06) – Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka confirmed the Super Four by defeating the Afghans.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka (Match 06) – Highlights

Afghanistan almost made it into the Super Four despite facing a tough equation courtesy of Mohammad Nabi’s devastating innings. But in the end, Rashid-Mujeeb couldn’t do it for the team. Sri Lanka confirmed the Super Four by defeating Afghanistan by just 2 runs. Chasing 292 runs, Afghanistan was all out after scoring 289 runs in 37.4 overs in the last match of the ‘B’ group on Tuesday (September 5).

Batting first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Sri Lanka collected 291 runs losing 8 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. After losing the previous match against Bangladesh by a big margin of 89 runs, Afghanistan had to face a difficult equation this day. To ensure the Super Four, they would not only have to win against the Lankans, but they had to chase down the target of 292 runs in just 37.1 overs.

The Afghans were quite antagonistic from the start of chasing runs. But the two openers were complete failures. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (4) went back to the pavilion for the team’s 10 runs and Ibrahim Zadran (7) for 27 runs. Gulbadin Naib’s innings, who was trying to get a quick run after going down at one down, got 22 runs off 16 balls.

Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi brought up 71 runs for the team by pairing up for the fourth wicket. Rahmat returned to the dressing room with a catch of 121 runs for the team. He scored 45 runs off 40 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. Afghanistan still needed 171 runs from 111 balls to secure the Super Four. But the way Nabi came to the crease and continued to hit four-sixes, the Lankans gradually lost control of the match.

In the 27th over, Maheesh Theekshana took the wicket of the devastating Nabi and Sri Lanka came back into the fight. Nabi left the field after playing a stormy innings of 65 runs in 32 balls smashing 6 fours and 5 sixes. Afghanistan needed 89 runs from 64 balls to go to the Super Four.

Hashmatullah and Karim Janat continued to take the team forward in that direction. But in the 32nd over, Afghanistan went on the back foot when Karim and Hashmatullah got out in the space of four balls in Dunith Wellalage’s over. Hashmatullah scored 59 runs off 66 balls with 3 fours and 1 six. On the other hand, 22 runs from 13 balls came from Karim’s bat.

After that, the eighth-wicket pair of Rashid Khan and Najibullah Zadran started to move towards their dreams again. Kasun Rajitha sent Zadran back when only 16 runs were needed from 10 balls. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was on strike, wanted to take runs in the next 3 balls but Rashid refused. The target was 15 runs in the last 7 balls. Rashid hit 3 boundaries in Wellalage’s 37th over. It requires 3 runs from 1 ball. But Mujeeb failed to take it. He returned to the dressing room with a catch at long-on.

But the hope of Afghans is not over yet. Even if they took 295 runs in 37.4 overs, they could have secured the Super Four. But the way Fazalhaq Farooqi was defending the ball did not seem like Rashid-Farooqi on the field knew the equation. In 37.4 overs, Farooqi was lbw by Dhananjaya de Silva. The Lankans won by 2 runs at the end.

Sri Lanka confirmed the Super Four by becoming the champion of the ‘B’ group with 4 points from two wins. Kasun Rajitha took 4 wickets for 79 runs and Dunith Wellalage and Dhananjaya de Silva took 2 wickets each. Besides, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana got 1 wicket each.

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first. The two openers Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne started well. They scored 63 runs in the opening pair of 62 balls. Afghan pacer Gulbadin broke the pair by sending off Karunaratne as he made 32 off 35 balls. Nissanka also returned with 41 runs off 40 balls.

After that, Gulbadin gave the Lankans a big blow by sending Sadeera Samarawickrama (3) back to the dressing room for the team’s 86 runs. The Lankans lost 3 wickets with a gap of 23 runs. From there, Kusal Mendis added 102 runs for the fourth wicket with Charith Asalanka. In this pair, the Lankans got the basis of a big collection. 

Rashid broke the pair by making Asalanka (36) a return catch. Mujeeb bowled Dhananjaya (14). But Kusal almost reached the threshold of a century with great batting. But unfortunately, his dream of a century was shattered due to a run-out. With 6 fours and 3 sixes, the wicket-keeper batsman got out scoring 92 runs off 84 balls.

Then Rashid bowled captain Dasun Shanaka (5). The Lankans were under pressure again after losing 3 wickets for 6 runs. Lower-order Wellalage and Theekshana pulled the team back, which lost 7 wickets for 227 runs. They added 64 off 63 balls for the eighth wicket. Theekshana (28) got out on the last ball of the innings. Wellalage remained unbeaten on 33 runs.

Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib took the highest number of 4 wickets for 60 runs. Besides, Rashid took 2 wickets and Mujeeb 1 wicket. However, Kusal Mendis was selected as the player of the match after playing an extraordinary innings.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Scoreboard

Sri Lanka – 291/8 (50.0)

Afghanistan – 289/10 (37.4)

Result – Sri Lanka won by 2 runs

Player of the match – Kusal Mendis

Rashid Khan

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Playing Xis

Relive the excitement of Asia Cup 2023 on September 05, where Sri Lanka emerged victorious with a resounding win over Afghanistan.

Stay tuned for more thrilling Cricket Match Highlights and action-packed matches as the Asia Cup 2023 season unfolds.