‘Jeeta hua match haar gaaye’- Fans react as Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan in thriller by 2 runs in Asia Cup 2023

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka locked horns against each other in what was a must-win game for Afghanistan. If Afghanistan had to go past Sri Lanka on net run rate then they had to overhaul the target in 37.1 overs. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat.  The Islanders got off to a steady start with Dimuth Karunaratne who made 32 off 35 balls with six fours. Pathum Nissanka cracked 41 off 40 balls with six fours. First Karunraratne fell and then Nissanka with the score at 80.

With wickets falling at the other end, Sri Lanka needed someone to hold the innings together, It came in the form of Kusal Mendis. the right-hander cracked a quickfire 92 off 84 balls with six fours and two sixes. When he was dismissed, he had taken the Sri Lankan score to 226-6. For Sri Lanka, there were other contributions made and the next few lines state what happened.

While Sadeera Samarawickrama failed to get going and only made 3 off 8 balls. Charith Asalnka hit 36 off 43 balls with two fours and one six. He was caught and bowled by Rashid Khan when he looked to up the ante. When Asalanka fell, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dasun Shanka followed suit into the dressing room. De Sliva and Shanaka were castled by Mujeeb and Rashid respectively. The score made its way to 227-7.

Mohammad Nabi hit 65 off 32 balls for Afghanistan 

The Islanders needed a way to sign off on a high and Dunith Wellalege and Maheesh Theekshana provided that platform. Wellalahe hit an unbeaten 33 off 39 balls with three fours and one six. Theekshana supported him well with 28 off 24 balls with two fours and one six. This enabled Sri Lanka to get to 291-8 in their 50 overs.

In the second innings, Afghanistan got off to a rickety start as they lost both their openers to Kasun Rajitha with just 27 on the board. Gulbadin Naib then came at number three and played an entertaining 22 off 16 balls with four fours. He was dismissed lbw to Matheesha Pahtirana.  At 50-3 it was looking lost for Afghanistan but Rahmat Shah made a stroke-filled 40 off 45 balls with five fours and one six.

This meant Afghanistan were back in the game. Mohammad Nabi also showed his class and he cracked 65 off 32 balls with six fours and five sixes. He was dismissed by De Silva off Theekshana Just when it seemed to go Afghanistan’s way, Shahidi was dismissed after he hit 59 off 66 balls with three fours and one six and also Karim Janat in one over by Dunith Wellalage.

The match headed for a tense finish as there were some quick runs made down the order by Najibullah Zadran and Rashid Khan. In the end Rashid’s  27 off 16 balls was not enough as Afghanistan missed out on qualification. And Sri Lanka won by 2 runs in a humdinger of a game.

Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/advthc/status/1699104850435359141?s=20

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