The innings started with a bang, with openers Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal looking to take on the Sri Lankan bowlers. But just when things were getting interesting, the “Wicket-Taker” sign lit up, courtesy of Sri Lanka’s secret weapon, Nuwan Thushara. With his unique bowling action, he made the Afghan top order look like they were playing on a slippery surface. Gurbaz was the first to go, followed by Karim Janat and Sediqullah Atal, all for a handful of runs. At one point, Afghanistan was looking as good as a deflated balloon.

Just when we thought all hope was lost, the Afghan middle order tried to stage a comeback. Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli tried to steady the ship, but their partnership was about as stable as a house of cards in a hurricane. They both fell, leaving Afghanistan in a dire situation at 79 for 6. It was then that Mohammad Nabi decided to turn the game on its head. In a blitzkrieg of an innings, he smashed 60 runs off just 22 balls, hitting six massive sixes! Suddenly, Afghanistan had a respectable total on the board, and the momentum had shifted.

Nabi’s innings was so good, it almost made us forget the top-order had a collective batting average of a houseplant!

Scorecard: Afghanistan Innings

Chasing 170, Sri Lanka’s innings was a masterclass in calm and composed batting. While Afghanistan’s bowling attack, led by the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, is one of the best in the world, they couldn’t find a way through. Sri Lankan openers, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, gave them a good start. Although Nissanka fell early, Kusal Mendis continued his brilliant form, scoring a match-winning 74. He was the anchor of the innings, while others played around him.

Scorecard: Sri Lanka Innings

The Afghan bowlers tried everything they had. Mujeeb and Noor Ahmad were a bit expensive, but Rashid Khan kept things tight, giving away only 23 runs in his 4 overs. However, the total was not enough to put Sri Lanka under any real pressure. The Lankans calmly chased down the target with four wickets and eight balls to spare, proving that a cool head and a stable innings are sometimes better than a flurry of boundaries.

With this win, Sri Lanka has not only secured its spot in the Super 4 but has also shown that they are a team to watch out for. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will go home with their heads held high, knowing they fought hard. Their Asia Cup journey may be over, but the memories of Nabi’s incredible innings and the excitement they brought to the tournament will surely last for a long time.

And so, the curtains close on Afghanistan’s Asia Cup dream. They came, they collapsed, and they fought back, but in the end, it was Sri Lanka’s day!