ABU DHABI: Afgha­nistan continued their rise in international cricket with an upset 91-run win over Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Monday, knocking the former champions out of the Asia Cup.

Sri Lanka needed to win the Group B match to stay in the tournament, but were outwitted by smart batting from Afghanistan who put up a fighting total of 249 all out at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The fighters then laid into Sri Lankan batting as spinner Rashid Khan (2-26), Mohammad Nabi (2-30) and Mujeebur Rahman (2-32) bowled out the five-time former winners for 158 in 41.2 overs.

Sri Lanka did not help their cause with two run outs while skipper Angelo Mathews played a reckless shot off Nabi and was caught near the boundary for 22.

This was Afghanistan’s first-ever victory against Sri Lanka in three one-day internationals after losing in the 2014 Asia Cup and World Cup a year later.

Sri Lanka, who now have lost 30 of their 40 matches since January last year, had lost to Bangladesh by 137 runs in Dubai on Saturday.

Bowled out for a paltry 124 against Bangladesh, Sri Lankan batting again failed miserably with only Upul Tharanga (36) and Thisara Perera (28) offering some fight.

Afghanistan were helped to 249 all out in their 50 overs by Rahmat Shah’s 72 and Ihsanullah Janat chipping in with 45.

Shah struck five boundaries during his 90-ball knock and added 50 for the second wicket with Janat (45) after Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

Janat hit six boundaries in his 65-ball innings while his opening partner Mohammad Shahzad batted in his aggressive style, hitting a six and four boundaries in his 47-ball 34.

Rahmat then added another 80 runs for the fourth wicket with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made a sedate 52-ball 37.

For Sri Lanka seamer Thisara Perera took five for 55 and spinner Akila Dananjaya finished with two for 39.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:
K. Mendis lbw b Mujeeb 0
U. Tharanga c Asghar b Naib 36
D. de Silva run out 23
K. Perera b Rashid 17
A. Mathews c Rashid b Nabi 22
S. Jayasuriya run out 14
T. Perera b Naib 28
D. Shanaka b Mujeeb 0
A. Dananjaya b Nabi 2
L. Malinga lbw b Rashid 1
D. Chameera not out 2

EXTRAS: (b2, lb5, w6) 13
TOTAL: (all out; 41.2 overs) 158
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0, 2-54, 3-86, 4-88, 5-108, 6-143, 7-144, 8-153, 9-156.
BOWLING: Mujeeb 9-1-32-2 (1w), Alam 7-0-34-0, Naib 8-0-29-2, Nabi 10-1-30-2 (5w), Rashid 7.2-0-26-2.

RESULT: Afghanistan win by 91 runs
TOSS: Afghanistan
UMPIRES: Gregory Brathwaite (WI) and Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)
TV UMPIRE: Marais Erasmus (S. Africa) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe).

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2018