Afghanistan qualified for the semi-final in Hangzhou
after eliminating an inexperienced Sri Lankan team from the Asian Games. Noor
Ali Zadran hit a solid fifty on a slow-turning ball, but Sri Lanka, which had
nine debutants, took the final hit thanks to three-fors from Qais Ahmad and
Gulbadin Naib.
Sri Lanka chose to field and scored on the sixth ball
of the game when Nuwan Thushara dismissed Sediqullah Atal. The second wicket
partnership between Noor and Mohammad Shahzad produced 54 runs, although both
batsmen toiled against left-arm spinner Nimesh Vimukthi and took their time in
the middle.
Following Shahzad’s dismissal to seamer Lahiru
Samarakoon, Shahidullah scored 23 runs off just 14 balls. But after that,
Afghanistan’s innings collapsed, as they went from being 92 for 2 to being
bowled out for 116. Thushara concluded with 4 for 17 thanks to his crisp
yorkers and slingy motion.
Lasith Croospulle smashed Naib for a four and a six in
an 11-run second over to help Sri Lanka quickly reply. Sri Lanka achieved 59
for 3 before the conclusion of the ninth over, despite the fact that he was
bowled in the following over.
At that point, Qais entered the attack and won the
match with a two-wicket over. Ashen Bandara attempted a drive but was hit by a
googly and continued to play. Lahiru Udara, a wicketkeeper-batter, was tricked
into hitting a heave across the line to be bowled three balls later.
When the team required 15 runs from 12 balls and then
nine in the penultimate over, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth kept the faint hopes alive
by scoring 22 off 29 for the captain Sahan Arachchige. However, Karim Janat
dismissed Thushara with the first ball of the 20th over to spark the Afghan
camp’s celebrations.