289/10 (37.4)
CR : 7.67
291/8 (50.0)
CR : 5.82
Sri Lanka won by 2 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Kusal Mendis
92(84)
10:29 PM IST and Local Time: Let's take a breather to start with! Hats off for Afghanistan for their fight! But some panic button pressed in the crunch situation has struck them badly. The match was hanging at the edge of the knife and tilted both ways for the most of it. Sri Lanka managed to hail through after a panic in the Afghanistan camp in the last part of the run chase. The Lankans top Group B, while Afghanistan bow out of the Asia Cup 2023.
Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka won the toss and opt to bat first. Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne started off brilliantly adding 63 runs for the first wicket. Gulbadin Naib got his opportunity to flex his biceps as he removed both the well-set openers in a short span of time. Naib didn't stop here and went to dismiss Sadeera Samarawickrama very soon.
Kusal Mendis batted elegantly and scored runs beautifully at a good pace, adding 102-run for the 4th wicket alongside Charith Asalanka, who got to a good start. Rashid Khan broke this partnership in the 34th over and Sri Lankan innings took a massive turn. Mendis (92 off 84) fell short of his well-deserved hundred by 8 runs in an freakish manner and Rashid was weaving his magic after going for runs in his first spell to reduce the batting side to 227/7 at one stage.
Youngster Dunith Wellalage read the situation well and had Maheesh Theekshana holding an end up with the duo adding a crucial 64-run stand for the 8th wicket. Theekshana was the last one to go in the final ball off the innings with Sri Lanka getting to 291/8 in 50 overs. Gulbadin was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-0-60-4. The spinners did fight it out for Afghanistan and shared three wickets between them.
The equation of 292 runs in 37.1 overs was set for Afghanistan for the qualification but didn't have an ideal start losing both of their openers to Kasun Rajitha in just five overs. Gulbadin was promoted to number three and played a few mighty hits but didn't last long, falling prey to Matheesha Pathirana inside the Powerplay.
Rahmant Shah looked set from the dressing room and played a few glorious strokes lifting the side with a 71-run partnership for the 4th wicket with the skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi anchoring the innings. Rajitha was brought back into the attack and he did the job for Sri Lanka by breaking this partnership with the wicket of Rahmat in the 19th over.
The President Mohammad Nabi came in at number 6 and played a blinder of an innings, smashing the bowlers left, right and centre. He had hit 6 fours and 5 sixes in his quick-fire knock of 65 off 32 balls, becoming the batter with the record of fastest fifty for Afghanistan. Nabi had a quick 80-run partnership with the skipper Shahidi and were taking the game away from the Lankans.
Theekshana had the last laugh at high-flying Nabi but had Shahidi playing the anchor's role at the other end getting to back-to-back fifties. Karim Janat hit a few big ones and continued the momentum given by Nabi but Wellalage's double strike in the 32nd over put Afghanistan on the back foot.
Sri Lanka had a mixed day in the bowling during this crucial moment or to be honest, during the whole defense. Najibullah Zadran and Rashid gave them a scare striking a few lusty blows. Wellalage bowled a smart over with Afghanistan needing 15 runs in 7 balls for the qualification. Rashid failed to take the side over the line but got them closer with getting three fours in that over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman was on strike to face Dhananjaya de Silva in the 38th over and de Silva bowled a fantastic over cleaning up the tail. But a question on the last two batters approach. Was they unaware of these conditions: If the scores were level by 37.1 and then Afghanistan could hit a four, they had to chase it by 37.4 overs. If the scores were level by 37.1 and then a six can come by 38.1.
Everything is a talking point here. Only tears will follow in the Afghani court while it was pretty close for the Sri Lanka's heartbreak!
Stay tuned for the post-match presentations!
Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka won the toss and opt to bat first. Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne started off brilliantly adding 63 runs for the first wicket. Gulbadin Naib got his opportunity to flex his biceps as he removed both the well-set openers in a short span of time. Naib didn't stop here and went to dismiss Sadeera Samarawickrama very soon.
Kusal Mendis batted elegantly and scored runs beautifully at a good pace, adding 102-run for the 4th wicket alongside Charith Asalanka, who got to a good start. Rashid Khan broke this partnership in the 34th over and Sri Lankan innings took a massive turn. Mendis (92 off 84) fell short of his well-deserved hundred by 8 runs in an freakish manner and Rashid was weaving his magic after going for runs in his first spell to reduce the batting side to 227/7 at one stage.
Youngster Dunith Wellalage read the situation well and had Maheesh Theekshana holding an end up with the duo adding a crucial 64-run stand for the 8th wicket. Theekshana was the last one to go in the final ball off the innings with Sri Lanka getting to 291/8 in 50 overs. Gulbadin was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-0-60-4. The spinners did fight it out for Afghanistan and shared three wickets between them.
The equation of 292 runs in 37.1 overs was set for Afghanistan for the qualification but didn't have an ideal start losing both of their openers to Kasun Rajitha in just five overs. Gulbadin was promoted to number three and played a few mighty hits but didn't last long, falling prey to Matheesha Pathirana inside the Powerplay.
Rahmant Shah looked set from the dressing room and played a few glorious strokes lifting the side with a 71-run partnership for the 4th wicket with the skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi anchoring the innings. Rajitha was brought back into the attack and he did the job for Sri Lanka by breaking this partnership with the wicket of Rahmat in the 19th over.
The President Mohammad Nabi came in at number 6 and played a blinder of an innings, smashing the bowlers left, right and centre. He had hit 6 fours and 5 sixes in his quick-fire knock of 65 off 32 balls, becoming the batter with the record of fastest fifty for Afghanistan. Nabi had a quick 80-run partnership with the skipper Shahidi and were taking the game away from the Lankans.
Theekshana had the last laugh at high-flying Nabi but had Shahidi playing the anchor's role at the other end getting to back-to-back fifties. Karim Janat hit a few big ones and continued the momentum given by Nabi but Wellalage's double strike in the 32nd over put Afghanistan on the back foot.
Sri Lanka had a mixed day in the bowling during this crucial moment or to be honest, during the whole defense. Najibullah Zadran and Rashid gave them a scare striking a few lusty blows. Wellalage bowled a smart over with Afghanistan needing 15 runs in 7 balls for the qualification. Rashid failed to take the side over the line but got them closer with getting three fours in that over.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman was on strike to face Dhananjaya de Silva in the 38th over and de Silva bowled a fantastic over cleaning up the tail. But a question on the last two batters approach. Was they unaware of these conditions: If the scores were level by 37.1 and then Afghanistan could hit a four, they had to chase it by 37.4 overs. If the scores were level by 37.1 and then a six can come by 38.1.
Everything is a talking point here. Only tears will follow in the Afghani court while it was pretty close for the Sri Lanka's heartbreak!
Stay tuned for the post-match presentations!
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan Captain): "Very disappointed about it. We gave our hundred percent. Yeah, I am proud of the team, the way we played. The way we scored runs and fought till the last end.
I think we played good cricket in the last couple of years in the ODI format also. It is still learning for us. Today, we played up to the mark and played good cricket I think. We had a lot of positives in this tournament. We are very near to the World Cup and that is a big event. We are looking forward to the event. You know, our crowd always supporting us. In the country, people always supporting us. We always try our best to gift them. We are sorry that we could not qualify"
I think we played good cricket in the last couple of years in the ODI format also. It is still learning for us. Today, we played up to the mark and played good cricket I think. We had a lot of positives in this tournament. We are very near to the World Cup and that is a big event. We are looking forward to the event. You know, our crowd always supporting us. In the country, people always supporting us. We always try our best to gift them. We are sorry that we could not qualify"
Matheesha Pathirana: "Yeah, really, it was a tough game. Finally, we qualified. It's good to see that we won all the matches. That is the only thing I can do under pressure. That's why I smile under pressure.
Yeah, it was. But I need to do that. I try my best and I will do it [bowling under pressure as a young 20-year-old bowler]."
Yeah, it was. But I need to do that. I try my best and I will do it [bowling under pressure as a young 20-year-old bowler]."
10:44 PM IST, 22:14 Local Time: Time for the presentation ceremony...
Best catch: Dushan Hemantha
MAXIMUM SIXES: Mohammad Nabi (five sixes)
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka Captain): "Of course, its hard to defend such totals with five fielders. Dhananjaya de Silva and my wicket went in an important part of the game. Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka did well in the game. It was our part to finish the score well but we did not. Thanks to Maheesh and Wellalage to put on the runs later.
Of course, that was the plan. But we did not plan accordingly well before. Because of Kasun's first spell, opening the game for us. Nabi played well and almost took the game away from us."
Of course, that was the plan. But we did not plan accordingly well before. Because of Kasun's first spell, opening the game for us. Nabi played well and almost took the game away from us."
Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis (Player of the Match): "Yeah, I think I batted really well during the first 10 overs. Then, Charith, Sadeera, and Dhananjaya supported really well.
The pitch was so good and I think it was hard to bowl even with five fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Our fielding was good, we have taken a lot of good catches and I think therefore we won the match.
I think Wellalage bowled really well. He bowled three overs, got the wickets and I think Matheehsa also bowled really well. little bit of more improvement in the death overs. Going forward, I think everyone did very well."
The pitch was so good and I think it was hard to bowl even with five fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Our fielding was good, we have taken a lot of good catches and I think therefore we won the match.
I think Wellalage bowled really well. He bowled three overs, got the wickets and I think Matheehsa also bowled really well. little bit of more improvement in the death overs. Going forward, I think everyone did very well."
A roller-coaster of a game from the Asia Cup 2023. A fitting end to the group stages but not for Afghanistan, who gave their all. Sri Lanka did well in the end to hold their nerve. A close win by a margin of 2 runs and boy, they have made it to the next round in the nick of time.
It was a prIvilege for us to bring you a live coverage of all the proceedings from this encounter, a mouth-watering one in all senses. For now, I am AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Arijit Kundu and Akshay Bhide, who, alongside, our scorer/analyst Zeeshan Naiyer brought you all the live updates from this massive contest in the Asia Cup 2023. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!
It was a prIvilege for us to bring you a live coverage of all the proceedings from this encounter, a mouth-watering one in all senses. For now, I am AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Arijit Kundu and Akshay Bhide, who, alongside, our scorer/analyst Zeeshan Naiyer brought you all the live updates from this massive contest in the Asia Cup 2023. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!