pinned on the back leg, and it's given leg before wicket! And for what it's worth, Farooqi reviews. The ball was loopy and full on middle and off, and barely moved back in to beat his defence. There's no bat involved, and ball-tracking shows the ball hitting the middle of middle stump. So Sri Lanka qualify for Super Fours with this two-run win
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 6th Match, Group B at Lahore, Asia Cup, Sep 05 2023 - Match Result
Match centre
Scores: Sudeep Poojar | Comms: @himanshu_a30Scorecard summary
Sri Lanka • 291/8(50 overs)
92 (84)
4/60 (10)
41 (40)
2/63 (10)
Afghanistan • 289/10(37.4 overs)
65 (32)
4/79 (10)
59 (66)
2/12 (1.4)
You would expect teams to know exactly what to do and how much to get when it comes to must-win fixtures like these. Unfortunately for Afghanistan though, that didn't seem to be the case, just like some confusion had eliminated the host country from the 2003 World Cup. Thus, there will be questions asked of the management. But hindsight is a wonderful thing, as Sri Lanka have made it to the Super Four already. That was it from us tonight from this nail-biter, as we bring you the action again tomorrow. Till then, see you!
"More on extra-deliveries rule... pls advice team management to follow Cricinfo in future matches" --- Or simply be more aware, Pubudu
Kusal Mendis is the Player of the Match: "I batted really well in the first ten overs and in the middle overs. I did my best for my team. There was a bit of pressure. The pitch is so good that it's very hard to bowl; only four fielders were out. There was good fielding and catching, which is why I think we won. Wellalage bowled really well; he got two wickets in only three wickets. Matheesha is improving."
Dasun Shanaka after the nervous win: "It's a tough one. It's very hard to defend such a total with only four fielders [on the boundary]. DDS and my wickets were important. Mendis and Asalanka built the innings well. Credit to Theekshana and Wellalage that we ended at 291. First target was that [it was a 37.1-over game]. A couple of wickets opened the door for us. Nabi took the game away from us. However, we ended up winning - that's what is important!"
Time for the presentations
Lasan Rashmika: "People who can remember Adithya Tare, Corey Anderson and Mumbai Indians are the ones who are aware of that rule"
Matheesha Pathirana: "Very tough game. Finally we qualified. Really happy that we won. I try to be calm under pressure, and that's why I smile. I try my best [with some seniors absent]."
Hashmatullah Shahidi after the close loss: "Very disappointed about it. We fought well. We gave our 100%. I am proud of the team - of the way they played, and fought till the last ball. We have played good cricket in ODIs in the last couple of years. But from the last four or five games we were struggling. We are very near to the World Cup. We will learn from and work on what we did here. Our crowd always supports us, and we are thankful to them. We try our best to give something to them; we feel sorry for them that we didn't qualify today."
Marsh: "And SL continue to wrap-up their opponents for the 12th time, despite the game is written all over for AFG."
Ravi: "I don't think they were aware of this extra-deliveries rule...."
9.57pm Seemingly, Afghanistan weren't aware that they could actually use more deliveries than the 37.1 overs they were actually slated for to qualify. No. 11 Farooqi ended up blocking these last three balls, denying Rashid the strike. It's a shame, really, as Afghanistan will rue the missed opportunity. Such chances don't come everyday, such dreams are rarely fulfilled. But full credit to Nabi, Shahidi and co for making the game what it turned out to be. Hang around for the presentations.
37.4
W
Dhananjaya to Fazalhaq Farooqi, OUT
Fazalhaq Farooqi lbw b de Silva 0 (3b 0x4 0x6 1m) SR: 0
So this ball has to go for a six for Afghanistan to qualify.
37.3
•
Dhananjaya to Fazalhaq Farooqi, no run
full and dipping on off, and tucked to cover
Over the wicket now
37.2
•
Dhananjaya to Fazalhaq Farooqi, no run
high full toss on off, and pushed back to the bowler
If Afghanistan get to 295 in 37.4 overs, they can still qualify. Farooqi is the last man, who just has to give the strike to Rashid.
37.1
W
Dhananjaya to Mujeeb, OUT
lofted straight to long-on! But wait, Afghanistan still have a chance to qualify. If they get to 295 off the next three balls, they can still make it. He bowled a seam-up ball, which was quite full and flat on off. Mujeeb got his front leg out of the way, and ended up giving the fielder a comfortable catch
Mujeeb Ur Rahman c Samarawickrama b de Silva 0 (3b 0x4 0x6 8m) SR: 0
DDS to Mujeeb, from around the wicket
Okay, Afghanistan need three off one ball to win this and qualify. But, but... if they score two off this ball, they get more deliveries in hand.
end of over 3712 runs
AFG: 289/8CRR: 7.81 • RRR: 0.23 • Need 3 from 78b
Rashid Khan27 (16b 4x4 1x6)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman0 (2b)
Dunith Wellalage 4-0-36-2
Kasun Rajitha 10-0-79-4
36.6
4
Wellalage to Rashid Khan, FOUR runs
inside edge for four! Ah, this is getting tastier by the second. Full length just outside off, as he went hoicking across the line but got one past the off stump for four behind the wicket
36.5
4
Wellalage to Rashid Khan, FOUR runs
skips down, and swats over extra cover! Makes room too, and gets the ideal length - short and outside off - which he thrashes away
11 off 3 for qualification
36.4
•
Wellalage to Rashid Khan, no run
backs away, and the bowler follows by going shortish and angling into leg. Hacked to cover-point
36.3
4
Wellalage to Rashid Khan, FOUR runs
pulled to deep square leg! Short and quick on off, as Rashid went slamming from deep in the crease
36.2
•
Wellalage to Rashid Khan, no run
looks to heave across the line, but is beaten by this full ball just outside off
36.1
•
Wellalage to Rashid Khan, no run
ah, fires in a quick yorker just outside off, as Rashid looks to sweep but is beaten
Wellalage from around the wicket
Afghanistan are potentially seven balls away from perhaps their greatest win across formats. They need 15, with Rashid on strike.
end of over 3612 runs • 1 wicket
AFG: 277/8CRR: 7.69 • RRR: 1.07 • Need 15 from 84b
Mujeeb Ur Rahman0 (2b)
Rashid Khan15 (10b 1x4 1x6)
Kasun Rajitha 10-0-79-4
Matheesha Pathirana 10-0-63-1
35.6
•
Rajitha to Mujeeb, no run
yorker length on fifth stump, and jammed to deep extra cover, but they don't run. Rashid wants strike next over, and rightly so
35.6
1w
Rajitha to Mujeeb, 1 wide
bowls quite full, and wide of off. Left alone, and it is called wide
Nayan: "Phew!!!"
35.5
•
Rajitha to Mujeeb, no run
There was potentially a single there, but Mujeeb was sent back. He sliced this length ball outside off to point, and took off, and the throw was wide of the stumps at his end, so there was no run-out too
Mujeeb at No. 10
35.4
W
Rajitha to Zadran, OUT
taken by fine leg moving and tumbling to his right! Some late twist here, especially with this over having already gone for quite a few runs. It was the sub fielder Hemantha there. Length ball angled in by Rajitha, as the ball finished around leg stump. Zadran went with the line, and had a big swing, only for the ball to land into the fielder's hands. Big moment in the game
Najibullah Zadran c sub (MADI Hemantha) b Rajitha 23 (15b 1x4 2x6 24m) SR: 153.33
16 off 10 for Afghanistan's place in Super Fours
35.3
6
Rajitha to Zadran, SIX runs
six over long-off! Rajitha serves up a full toss, and Afghanistan can smell qualification now. Angled across, and ending outside off, as Zadran went lofting away from his body
35.2
1
Rajitha to Rashid Khan, 1 run
on the bounce to deep third! Looked to hoick this length ball outside off but going across the line and over the on side, but a leading edge flew behind the wicket. The ball, luckily for Rashid, landed between point, deep third and short third
Ifhaam: "This match has surely given the message that AFG isn't a weak team anymore"
35.1
4
Rajitha to Rashid Khan, FOUR runs
just wide of long-off! Rajitha offered Rashid some length, while angling it away. But the line was pretty wide, and allowed Rashid to loft with a free swing of his arms
For qualification, Afghanistan need 27 from 13 balls. And here comes Rajitha.
end of over 356 runs
AFG: 265/7CRR: 7.57 • RRR: 1.80 • Need 27 from 90b
Najibullah Zadran17 (13b 1x4 1x6)
Rashid Khan10 (8b 1x6)
Matheesha Pathirana 10-0-63-1
Maheesh Theekshana 10-0-62-1
34.6
•
Pathirana to Zadran, no run
ah, nice bowling. Bowls short on leg stump - and with a change of pace - as Zadran ducks. Trott, Afghanistan's coach, looks surprised perhaps because he expected it to be a wide
34.5
4
Pathirana to Zadran, FOUR runs
absolutely crunched to deep extra cover! That flew off his bat, as he lifted this length ball landing just outside off. Attacked it with a flat bat, and got his share of runs
34.4
•
Pathirana to Zadran, no run
full on off, and he drills it right to mid-off. Crucial dot ball
Now 31 from 16 balls needed for Afghanistan's qualification
Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
92 runs (84)
6 fours3 sixes
Productive shot
flick
25 runs
2 fours0 six
Control
88%
65 runs (32)
6 fours5 sixes
Productive shot
cover drive
14 runs
2 fours1 six
Control
72%
Best performances - bowlers
O
10
M
0
R
60
W
4
ECO
6
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
LEGOFF
LHB
1W | ||||
O
10
M
0
R
79
W
4
ECO
7.9
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
LEGOFF
LHB
1W | ||||
Match details
| Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | |
| Toss | Sri Lanka, elected to bat first |
| Series | |
| Season | 2023 |
| Player Of The Match | |
| Match number | ODI no. 4633 |
| Hours of play (local time) | 15.00 start, First Session 15.00-18.30, Interval 18.30-19.10, Second Session 19.10-22.40 |
| Match days | 5 September 2023 - daynight (50-over match) |
| Umpires | |
| TV Umpire | |
| Reserve Umpire | |
| Match Referee | |
| Points | Sri Lanka 2, Afghanistan 0 |
Language
English
Match Coverage
Instant answers to T20 questions
Afghanistan Innings
<1 / 3>