Sri Lanka, the defending champions of the Asia Cup, cruised into the Super Four stage. They booked their ticket by edging past Afghanistan by six wickets in a nail biting contest on Thursday. The victory highlighted Sri Lanka’s dominance in Group B and secured Bangladesh’s place in the next round of the tournament.
In a match played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Afghanistan batted first, scoring 169 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Afghanistan Mohammad Nabi was the star of the show for the Afghan side, scoring a dependable 60 runs. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially Nuwan Thushara, were far too strong. Thushara produced a genuine star turn, claiming 4-18.
Chasing a stiff target of 170 runs, Sri Lanka achieved the target in 18.4 overs scoring 171 for four. Kusal Mendis was instrumental in their feat, finishing 74 not out. His innings was primarily responsible for ensuring Sri Lanka’s first Test win against the odds. This assisted them in maintaining their still intact record in Group B after first beating Bangladesh and afterwards Hong Kong.
Azmatullah bowled with venom for Afghanistan, taking one for only 10 runs. Even Duminy’s tireless efforts were not enough to halt Sri Lanka’s runaway momentum. That victory proved a fitting pre-cursor to the final, as Sri Lanka finished on top of their group—unbeaten in three matches.
Sri Lanka’s victory was good news not just for them, but for one more team in the tournament. Following this victory, Bangladesh advanced to the Super Four stage along with India and Pakistan, who both progressed from Group A. So get ready for a thrilling competition! India and Pakistan will square off in Dubai this Sunday, but the intensity between these teams is always an amazing experience.
Looking ahead, the Asia Cup final is scheduled for September 28, where the top teams will compete for the championship title.
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