Asia Cup 2023: SL qualify for Super four by beating Afghanistan

Lahore: Afghanistan won hearts and minds, but it was Sri Lanka who won the contest, in a game for the ages in Lahore.

The scorecard will say Sri Lanka won by two runs - and in the process recorded their 12th straight ODI win - but that barely scratches the surface in a game that could've gone either way.

After their heavy loss to Bangladesh, Afghanistan knew at the toss that any chase would have to be completed in around 37 overs for them to get their NRR to qualification standards. Adding a bit of spice to this scenario was the fact that, if they succeeded in doing so, Sri Lanka's NRR would then drop below that of both Bangladesh's and Afghanistan's, thus eliminating the defending champions.

As it transpired, with Sri Lanka ending on 291 for 8 - courtesy an 84-ball 92 from Kusal Mendis and a late stand between Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana - Afghanistan needed to reach their target in 37.1 overs. For much of the chase Sri Lanka had the game in hand, but then Mohammad Nabi's 32-ball 65 lit the fuse of belief that spread through the Afghan camp.

Sri Lanka win a thriller in Lahore!

A 2️⃣-run victory ensures them a spot in the Super Fours as Afghanistan go down fighting ?#AFGvSL | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/59X1Iswjqh

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 5, 2023

Nabi walked in in with 171 required off 110, and by the time he fell, the equation had dropped to 91 from 64. In between, he had pulled, swatted, cut and slapped Sri Lanka's bowlers all over the Gaddafi Stadium in an innings that included six fours and five sixes.

Such was the impact of Nabi's innings that the rest of the batters - the same ones that had struggled to maintain a high strike-rate against Bangladesh two days prior - would find the boundaries when required to keep up with the run-rate.

In the end though it was left to Rashid Khan, who would strike three boundaries in the final four balls of the 37th over to leave Mujeeb Ur Rahman needing to score three off one. Mujeeb would hole out at long-on, but that wouldn't be that.

As the math would have it, Afghanistan could have still qualified if they were to get their score up to 295 in 37.5 overs - essentially with a single six. But incredibly, it appeared this wasn't communicated to the Afghan players. And so, Farooqi, as the No. 11, would play out two defensive strokes, before being trapped lbw while attempting a third block. Rashid at the other end cut a forlorn figure as Sri Lanka secured an improbable win to finish atop Group B.