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The must-win game for Afghanistan reminded cricket fans of many encounters – India’s Hobart run chase against Sri Lanka, Mark Boucher defending the last ball after confusion about par score and target against Sri Lanka in the 2003 World Cup, the Indian Premier League clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). But in the end, Afghanistan ended up losing the match by two runs, a game that they could have won easily but lost because of confusion and the need to qualify for the Asia Cup Super Fours clash.
Afghanistan show intent
Afghanistan needed to chase down 292 from 37.1 overs to qualify for the next stage. In the run chase, Afghanistan lost their in-form batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz early to Kasun Rajitha in the third over. In Rajitha's next over, Ibrahim Zadran got bowled after scoring just seven runs from 14 balls. Gulbadin Naib hit a few exquisite shots in the powerplay overs. Dasun Shanaka introduced Matheesha Pathirana and he provided the breakthrough with the first ball. Naib got out lbw for a 16-ball 22. Rahmat Shah and skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi did not let the momentum die. They continued to take on the bowlers and find boundaries. Rajitha came to the rescue once again and got the wicket of Shah. He scored 45 runs from 40 balls.
Nabi unleashes fury
Mohammad Nabi made a statement straightaway as he got off the mark with a six. In the 23rd over, he went after Pathirana and hit two fours and a six. The onslaught from Nabi continued and he reached his half-century from just 24 balls, the fastest for an Afghan batter. Rajitha was brought back into the attack and Nabi smashed him for two sixes in an over. Maheesh Theekshana got the wicket of dangerous Nabi. He scored 65 runs from 32 balls including six fours and five sixes. In the next over, Shahidi got to his half-century from 51 balls. Karim Janat attacked from the word go as well. He hit Rajitha for a humongous 101-metre six.
Wellalage’s double blow spoils the party
Wellalage turned the game upside down with two wickets in the 32nd over. Janat departed after a 13-ball 22 cameo. Then Shahidi was caught in the deep. He scored 59 runs from 66 balls including three fours and a six. Rashid hit Pathirana for a six to revive Afghanistan's hopes. Najibullah Zadran hit Theekshana for a six and then got dropped the next ball. In Rajitha's last over, Rashid hit a four and Najibullah hit a six. But Rajitha managed to dismiss Najibullah for a 15-ball 23. Shanaka handed the ball to Wellalage. Rashid hit three fours in the over leaving three runs from the next ball to qualify. Mujeeb Ur Rahman went for the big shot but got caught at long-on.
Massive confusion leaves Rashid stranded
When Fazalhaq Farooqi came to bat, he needed to get Rashid on strike. Had Rashid hit a six, Afghanistan would have qualified. But it seemed Farooqi did not know about the equation and defended two balls. On the third ball, he got out lbw and Afghanistan lost the match by two runs. On the other hand, Rashid remained unbeaten and unaware of the equation.
Good start spoiled by Naib
Earlier, Shanaka won the toss and opted to field first. Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka got Sri Lanka off to an ideal start. They were not troubled by Fazalhaq Farooqi's pace or Mujeeb Ur Rahman's spin. In the first 10 overs, they were 62/0. Naib broke the partnership in the 11th over as Karunaratne threw his wicket away. He scored 32 runs from 35 balls. A few overs later, Naib dismissed Nissanka as well. The opener scored 41 runs from 40 balls. Sadeera Samarawickrama became Naib's third victim as he was dismissed for a single-digit score.
Mendis, Asalanka steady the ship
Mendis and Charith Asalanka stabilised the innings in the middle overs. Mendis reached his 23rd half-century from 55 balls in the 28th over. Rashid broke the partnership in the 34th over with Asalanka's wicket. He got out caught and bowled after scoring 36 runs from 43 balls. Mendis hit a few sixes and was approaching his century. Then Mujeeb was brought back into the attack and Dhananjaya got bowled. In the next over, Mendis got run out in an unfortunate manner. Shanaka played a shot that went through Rashid's hands and crashed into the stumps at the non-striker end. He scored 92 runs from 84 balls including six fours and three sixes. In the same over Shanaka got bowled for a single-digit score.
Lower order fires
After Sri Lanka were reduced to 227/7 in the 40th over, lower-order batters Wellalage and Theekshana came to the rescue. They shared a 64-run partnership for the eighth wicket to help Afghanistan post 291/8. Wellalage scored 33 runs from 39 balls including three fours and a six. Theekshana got bowled off the final ball for a 24-ball 28.
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