Asia Cup 2023: Cricket fraternity reacts as Afghanistan misses Super 4s qualification by a whisker; lose to Sri Lanka by 2 runs

Sri Lanka joined Bangladesh, Pakistan and India in Super 4s.

By Jatin Sharma - 05 Sep, 2023

The last group stage game of the Asia Cup 2023 saw Afghanistan taking on Sri Lanka in Lahore on September 5 in what was a very interesting game. There was only one spot remaining in the Super 4s stage and only one of these teams could qualify.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. Kusal Mendis led the charge with 92 with excellent contributions from Pathum Nissanka (41), Charith Asalanka (36), and Dunith Wellalage (33*) as Sri Lanka posted 291/8 in 50 overs.

Gulbadin Naib with 4/60 was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan started their chase poorly losing both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran for single-digit scores while they needed to chase down the total in 37.1 overs.

However, Rahmat Shah (45), Mohammad Nabi (65 in 32 balls), and Hashmatullah Shahidi (59) kept them in the hunt for the target. Down the order, Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran, and Rashid Khan (27*) almost took the Afghan team home.

However, they were seemingly unaware that they could’ve qualified if they had made 295 in 37.4 overs and had 3 more balls to achieve a bit more. In the end, Sri Lanka bowled them out for 289 runs and won the match by 2 runs to qualify for the Super 4s.

The cricket fraternity was left breathless after such a close encounter and shared their emotions on social media.

Here are some reactions:

What a game????
There were not much separating the two teams but glad to see SL making it to the Super 4. We need to be more clinical with our performances in the upcoming games.
Top knock from Mendis and a clutch performance from young Wellalage????
Tough luck but well played????????????
— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) September 5, 2023

Commiserations to Afghanistan on this defeat but u guys played really well, chin up and take a lot of positives from this. Good luck team Sri Lanka for the super four round of the Asia cup. @ACBofficials #AsiaCup2023
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) September 5, 2023

What a pity . Afghanistan fought so valiantly but being unaware that in the last 3 balls 6 runs would have seen them through and they chose to block thinkinthey cannot. Reminded of Mark Boucher in 2003 WC.
Support staff need to be more pro active especially in such qualification…
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 5, 2023

Feeling Sad for @ACBofficials
Love the way they fought till end.#AFGvsSL #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/YL0JnNXPQm
— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) September 5, 2023

How sad! The AFG team think tank didn’t know that their team could still qualify if they’d hit a six within 37.4 overs. The no 11 blocked the last 3 balls and eventually got out — of which one was juicy full toss #AsiaCup #AFGvSL
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) September 5, 2023

What a thrilling game it was… congrats @OfficialSLC team…Hard luck @ACBofficials team but you guys put a very good fight @MohammadNabi007 @Hashmat_50 & @rashidkhan_19 #AFGvsSL #AsiaCup2023
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) September 5, 2023

I cannot believe in this day and age of technology, Afghanistan were unaware that they could still go through after Mujeeb s dismissal! Easy single missed off the 3rd ball. Heartbreaking but congratulations to Srilanka. They hung in there. We have our Top 4 for #AsiaCup2023
— Abhinav Mukund (@mukundabhinav) September 5, 2023

Heroes in defeat is what Afghanistan were tonight! What a blessing this team is for world cricket! ????????????????????????#AsiaCup2023
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 5, 2023

Srilanka ne match jeeta or Afghanistan ne dil ❤️. Best game of this Asia cup by far. #AsiaCup2023
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 5, 2023

What a game! #SLVAFG #AsiaCup2023
— Ashwin ???????? (@ashwinravi99) September 5, 2023

Afghanistan snatch defeat from jaws of victory After spirited run chase. seemingly confused about how exactly many overs they could reach target! Support staff should have been more proactive
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 5, 2023

Hold your heads high team @ACBofficials ???????? Superb game of cricket overall and you guys have played brilliantly over the past two weeks ???????? Your time will come boys!#IamGAME #AsiaCup
— Hassan Ali ???????? (@RealHa55an) September 5, 2023

What a game!!!
Koi analysts ka analysis Karo…how did they not know the equation? #SLvAFG #AsiaCup
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 5, 2023

Wow! No team deserved to loose that sort of a game. Spare of thought for @ACBofficials players who played wonderfully well. Well done Afghanistan???????? @OfficialSLC that’s a narrow escape! Need to be more ruthless when they had the opportunity to out bat the opponent. #AsiaCup23
— Farveez Maharoof (@farveezmaharoof) September 5, 2023

Chin up, champ @rashidkhan_19 ! Tremendous efforts by Afghanistan in the nail-biter. You gotta feel for them – just unlucky to be on the losing side. Loved their fighting spirit! #AFGvSL pic.twitter.com/YTS5MkhBay
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 5, 2023

Congrats to Sri Lanka on the win and also to Afghanistan on putting on the best forward. Ultimately a good game of cricket is what we all want to see! Well done both teams #AsiaCup2023
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 5, 2023

What a nail-biter finish! Experience is directly connected to the heart and brain, and then you execute your plan. Afghanistan played amazingly but lacked experience, which cost them the game. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, controlled their nerves and executed it tremendously pic.twitter.com/1CAtGRdLyO
— Saqlain Mushtaq (@Saqlain_Mushtaq) September 5, 2023

By Jatin Sharma - 05 Sep, 2023

Asia Cup 2023: Cricket fraternity reacts as Afghanistan misses Super 4s qualification by a whisker; lose to Sri Lanka by 2 runs

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