Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have played each other in the new Asia Cup 2023 bout. Both the countries needed to win this match to confirm their qualification to Super 4’s. Afghanistan needed to chase down the target of 291 in 37.1 overs to qualify. Sri Lanka on the last ball, that is, at 37.1, they got the wicket and left Afghanistan with no chance. Later, Afghanistan lost their last wicket on 37.4 and lost the match. Sri Lanka won the match by 2 runs in the nick of the time.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Pathum Nissanka(41) and Dimuth Karunaratne(32) gave steady start to the innings. Kusal Mendis continued to stay as glue and backbone to the innings. Charith Asalanka(36), Dunith Wellalage(33) and Maheesh Theekshana(28) helped him to take Sri Lanka past 291/8 in 50 overs. Kusal Mendis scored 92 runs off 84 balls. Gulbadin Naib(4/60), Rashid Khan(2/63) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman(1/60) took wickets for Afghanistan.
In the chase, Afghanistan got the task of chasing down 292 in 37.1 overs to qualify. Even though openers failed, Gulbadin Naib(22), Rahmat Shah(45) kept run-rate going. Sri Lanka kept taking wickets but Afghanistan batters kept scoring runs. Hashmatullah Shahidi(59), Mohammad Nabi(65) got out bringing them closer to target. Karim Janat(22), Najibullah Zadran(23) tried their best and Rashid Khan(27) has been left not out as Afghanistan failed in their task. Kasun Rajitha(4/79), Dunith Wellalage(2/36), Matheesha Pathirana(1/63), Maheesh Theekshana(1/62) took wickets. In the last over, Dhananjaya de Silva(2/12), took two wickets and gave Sri Lanka, a famous victory.
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