Mohammad Nabi’s game-changing 65 off 32 balls went in vain as Sri Lanka pulled off a thrilling two-run win over Afghanistan to qualify for the Super Fours of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.
Kusal Mendis’ solid 92 had pushed Sri Lanka to 291/8 at the Gadaffi Stadium.
Due to their inferior run-rate, Afghanistan needed to chase down 292 in 37.1 overs.
The qualifying equation finally came down to 15 runs off seven balls. Rashid Khan increased the heart rate on either side by finding three fours off Dunith Wellalage in the 37th over.
Afghanistan then needed three runs off the first ball of the 38th over. However, Mujeeb Zadran’s wicket on the first ball caused heartbreak in the Afghanistan camp with disappointment written all over the players’ faces in the dressing room.
Such was their dejection that they were not even aware that they could still make it after Zadran’s dismissal, with a six off the following three balls of the 38th over.
Brief scores: SL 291/8 in 50 ovs (Kusal Mendis 92, Pathum Nissanka; Gulbadin Naib 4/60). Afghanistan 289 in 37.4 ovs (Md Nabi 65, Hashmatullah Shahidi 59; K. Rajitha 4/79). SL won by 2 runs.
PTI
