All-Round Afghanistan Knock Sri Lanka Out Of Asia Cup

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Sri Lanka suffered from another similar batting collapse in a must-win match against Afghanistan and knocked themselves out of the Asia Cup 2018 on Monday 17 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi after losing by 91-runs .

The five-time champion lost to Bangladesh in the opening match of this Asia Cup and therefore, this was the must-win match for them to keep their hope alive. But they failed to chase down the target of 250 and bundled out on just 158 in 41.2 over to handed Afghanistan a memorable win.



Afghanistan had won the toss and opted to bat first. Sri Lanka made three changes from their last match and included Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, and Shehan Jayasuriya in place for Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, and Amila Aponso.

Afghanistan started well as both Mohammed Shahzad (34 off 47) and Ihsanullah (45 off 65) added 57 for the first wicket. Both dismissed to Akila Dananjaya. But their leading run scorer of 2018, Rahmat Shah played a brilliant knock of 72 off 90 balls. His partnership worth 80-runs with Hashmatullah Shahidi (37 off 52) helped Afghanistan to reach 249 in 50 overs. It was a good effort by them knowing that they were 110 for 3 after 26 overs.

Sri Lanka did bowl well and restricted them on that total. Thisara Perera was the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 55 in 9 overs. Akila Dananjaya supported him well with 2 for 39 in 10 overs. Malinga, Chameera, and Jayasuriya all three took a wicket each.



Chasing 250, Sri Lanka were needed a good start but the 17-year old Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Kusal Mendis on the just second ball of the inning without troubling the scorecard. However, Dhananjaya de Silva (23) and Upul Tharanga (36) tried to build a partnership but misunderstanding between the wicket ran de Silva out after adding 54 for the second wicket.

After losing de Silva, Sri Lanka could never build any big partnership further and kept losing a wicket at the regular interval. Kusal Perera (17), skipper Angelo Mathews (22), Jayasuriya (14), Thisara Perera (28) all got the start but could not save Sri Lanka from losing the match.

Afghanistan's bowling once again was brilliant. Mujeeb, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammed Nabi, and Rashid Khan all took two wickets each. Rashid Khan and Nabi were excellent in the middle overs and kept the pressure on Lankans. This was Afghanistan's first win over Sri Lanka in Asia Cup.



Rahmat Shah awarded Man Of The Match for his brilliant knock of 72 runs. After Sri Lanka lost, Bangladesh and Afghanistan became the first two teams to enter in super four.

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