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Sri Lanka lose to Afghanistan in Asian Games men’s cricket
Sri Lanka slumped to a eight-run defeat to Afghanistan in their Asian Games Men's Cricket quarter-final, despite the best efforts of their last-wicket pair to fashion a sensational win.
Sri Lanka appeared to have the modest chase of 118 under control having reached 59 for 3 at the end of the eighth over, with Ashen Bandara and Sahan Arachcige putting together a 23-run partnership.
But Qais Ahmed triggered a batting collapse that resulted in Sri Lanka losing six wickets for 36 runs to stumble to 96 for 9.
With 21 needed off the final 16 balls, the last-wicket pair of Viyaskanth Vijayakanth and Nuwan Thushara each scored boundaries to keep Sri Lanka's hopes alive, bringing the equation down to nine runs required in the last over.
Afghanistan's experienced all-rounder Karim Janat ended those hopes however, with Thushara caught by Shahidullah, ending a valiant effort.
Ahmed finished with 3 for 17 in his four overs, having accounted for the key wickets of Bandara, Lahiru Udara and Lahiru Samarakoon, quickly unravelling Sri Lanka's innings.
Captain Arachchige top scored with 22 for Sri Lanka, and while his presence at the crease meant Sri Lanka always had a chance, his run out in the 15th over proved a significant blow in the run chase.
Gulbadin Naib also claimed three wickets, conceding 28 runs, although he did much of his work at the top of Sri Lanka's innings.
Naib's two wickets in the Powerplay, reduced Sri Lanka to 36 for 3, before Arachchige and Bandara put on their fourth-wicket partnership.
Earlier, Sri Lanka bowled out Afghanistan for 116, with Thushara taking a career-best 4 for 17 in three overs.
He struck with his first ball, in the second over of the Afghanistan innings, dismissing opener Sediquallah Atal for 1, before taking three wickets in one over when he returned for this second spell in the 17th over.
Arachchige chipped in with 2 for 26, with leg-spinner Viyaskanth Vijayakanth and Lahiru Samarakoon, two of nine debutants who featured for Sri Lanka, taking a wicket each.
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