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'Kya match tha'- Fans react as Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by barest of margin to qualify for Super 4s of Asia Cup

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan in a must-win match by 2 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. After winning the match they qualified for Super 4s.

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Rohit Kumar
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Sri Lanka (Source- Twitter)

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan in a must-win match by 2 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. It was a must-win game for both sides, but for the Afghans, it was difficult as they had to do something extraordinary to beat Sri Lanka to qualify for the Super 4s.

Batting first, the Lankans scored 291 for 8, with the help of Kusal Mendis's 92 runs and a fighting eight-wicket partnership by Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana. Gulbadin Naib was the most successful bowler for Afghanistan. He rattled the middle order of the co-hosts of the Asia Cup.

Kusal Mendis leads Sri Lanka to Super 4s

Sri Lanka got off to an ideal start as their opening stand of 63 between Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka went well until Mohammad Nabi broke the partnership. Gulbadin Naib broke Lanka's middle order leaving them 86/3. Wellalage scored 33 runs off 39 balls with three fours and one six. Theekshana played a supportive innings off 28 runs off 24 balls with two fours and one six. This helped Sri Lanka to get to 291-8 in their 50 overs.

In reply, the Afghans lost both their openers on just 27 runs. Afghanistan was struggling at 50 for 3 but Rahmat Shah scored 40 runs off 45 balls with five fours and one six and etched a partnership with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who scored 59 runs off 66 balls. Then, Mohammad Nabi showed his class and he cracked 65 off 32 balls with six fours and five sixes becoming the first Afghanistan batter to score the fastest ODI fifty. His partnership with Hashmatullah Shahidi was sensational as the duo made a blistering 80-run stand for the fifth wicket in just 7.5 overs.

In the end, Rashid’s 27 off 16 balls was not enough as Afghanistan missed out on qualification. Afghanistan could have still qualified if they had managed to get their score up to 295 in 37.4 overs but they failed to do so eventually getting eliminated from the Asia Cup.

Kusal Mendis was named as the Player of the Match. He stated, "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."

Here's how fans reacted

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