Sri Lanka continued on Thursday to the Super Four phase of Asia Cup 2025 After banging Afghanistan through six wickets in Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.
Sri Lanka, who was set on Chase 170, needed 101 to book their place in the Super Four, which they have comfortably collected at the fourth delivery of the 13th over.
The defending champion ultimately chased the discouraging target for the loss of four wickets and eight balls to save, which Bangladesh produced in the next phase, because the defeat of Afghanistan meant that the Tigers finished second in group B classification.
At the front for the road for Sri Lanka, the opening of Slagman Kusal Mendis, who wore his bat completely and returned undefeated after top score with 74 from 52 deliveries, strewn with 10 four.
He was more than supported by Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis, who scored 28 and an unbeaten 26 respectively.
For Afghanistan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman can pick up a wicket each.
The decision of Afghanistan, Rashid Khan to batten first, was ultimately favorable because the batting unit of his team yielded 169/8 in their assigned 20 overs despite the four-wicket trait of Nuwan Thushara.
Afghanistan, however, went on a short flying start of their innings when their opening couple from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (14) and Sediqullah Atal brought the total on 26/0 in two overs before Thushara brought the former and all -rounder Karim Janat (one) to the next.
The right arm Pacer again struck in his next to get rid of Atal (18), reducing Afghanistan to 40/3 in 4.5 overs.
After the early stotter, Ibrahim Zadran tried to launch recovery, but lacked support from the other end when Darwish Rasooli (nine) and Azmatullah Omarzai (six) (six) died after making lean contributions.
The right -handed batter eventually ran back in the 13th after scoring a scratching 24 of 27 deliveries, with only one border.
Afghanistan had reduced his resignation to 79/6 before the experienced all -round duo of Rashid and Nabi stopped the total.
Rashid and Nabi shared a crucial 35-run partnership for the seventh Wicket, which culminated in the resignation of the first at the first delivery of the 18th. The captain of Afghanistan scored 24 of 23 deliveries with the help of two four and a six.
Nabi, on the other hand, stood firmly to the last delivery of the innings and scored with a Swashbuckling 60 from 22 deliveries, strewn with two four and six sixes, five of which came over in the last, bent by Dunith Wellalage.
Thushara was the striking bowler for Sri Lanka and took four wickets for only 18 runs in his four overs, while Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera and Wellalage made one chapter each.
