Rashid seals it with a googly. Beats the sweep after landing on a length and pins him in front of middle
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Match, Group B at Abu Dhabi, Sep 17 2018 - Ball by Ball Commentary
10.50pm After another one-sided defeat, Sri Lanka crash out of the 2018 Asia Cup. That means Afghanistan and Bangladesh are through to the next stage. Afghanistan were expected to be a threat, few may have considered this an upset at the start of the clash, but probably a few more expected a tighter contest. This was a total knockout. Not one batsman looked comfortable against Afghanistan's spinners and they fold for 158 in response to Afghanistan's 249. The batsmen had a part to play in this victory too. The top three laid a solid platform. Sri Lanka's spinners hit back, but Afghanistan rotated the strike well, and eventhough they lost a few wickets towards the end looking for quick runs, they ended with a competitive score, and that proved to be more than enough.
"Shocking performance by the whole team," says captain Angelo Mathews. "Even in the first game, we got all out for 150-odd. Congratulations to Afghanistan, they outplayed us. We got a good start but once again lost our way in the middle overs. The bowlers did well, the fielding had also improved from the last match. It's just the batting unit that let us down. We played better cricket in the latter part of the South Africa series. Just disappointing to see the way the boys went about it. We just couldn't handle pressure. Not passing 150 on both occasions is very shocking and disappointing."
We will bring the rest of the presentations shortly. Meanwhile, head over to Match Day where Deep Dasgupta and Farveez Maharoof dissect Afghanistan's one-sided win.
Arumugham GR: "Apart from appalling batting and running, fielding 50 overs and chasing is clearly a disadvantage here."
Harsh: "An era where we saw both rise and fall of worldcup winners. "
Nawaj: "Cricket on the global map is on decline .... first Zimbabwe then WI and now SriLanka ... ICC should be worried about loosing these teams "
Rz: "New Record ! - This is the first time i think an international team has gone for a cricket tournament and now have to return back in less than 7 days... "
Muhammad Adeel: "That Test Series Victory against Pakistan seems long time ago now ! Afghanistan are going to be serious challengers in the Next years World cup provided they get their batting sort out ! "
Parveen Kumar V: "Sometime being best is not in your favour like the way Rashid must be feeling today, keeping him till last for crutial phase and the game ends...anyway Afghanis are winning and that's what is most important for their cricket ..the nation ...! You are the best Rashid...keep it up..!"
Lokesh: "We won't have malinga Vs dhoni . Bad luck"
Arumugham GR: "Playing the easiest of the groups on paper and yet knocked out, certainly a new low for SL. Clinical performance from AFG.. proud of them. "
Azweer: "There was no Afghanistan team when SL won the World cup... Rashid khan wasn't even born then...!! It's astonishing to see the raise of Afghanistan team from no where to this point..."
"Every batsman executed his plans," says winning captain Asghar Afghan. "We spoke of partnerships especially. Credit to our fielders, they did well. When you want to play cricket for winning, you play positively. Our spinners, batsmen and bowlers did well. I would like to say thanks to the crowd for their support."
Rahmat Shah is Man of the Match. "When I go to the wicket, the wicket was very good to bat," he says. "The captain and coach gave me a role to play straight and I did so. Very happy to be Man of the Match."
Right then. That's a wrap to our coverage from tonight's match. Be here tomorrow for India v Hong Kong. For now, goodbye from Al and myself. Off you go.
length, sliding towards middle, pushed through covers
slower length ball, opens the face to point
short, ducked under
short, goes over leg stump as he ducks
short, ducked under
Thisara goes, Sri Lanka's last recognised batsman. But, umm, this game's looked done for a while now. Thisara swings at this short of a length delivery, makes no contact as the ball crashes into middle stump
left alone outside off
full, driven to sweeper cover
opens the face to third man for a quick one
googly, defended
backs away and shovels this wide of long-on
jabs a length ball back
short, spins in, cut to cover
pushes with an open face through backward point
full on middle, blocked
length outside off, defended
slows it up and bowls full on middle, blocked
comes down the track and swipes ambitiously. Ball gets a peek between bat and pad, gleefully accepts it and goes past the inside edge to clatter into the stumps
length on middle, defended back