Afghanistan A held their nerve to chase 171 and defeat Sri Lanka A by three wickets in a thrilling contest at Doha’s West End Park International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka A, after a shaky start that saw four early wickets fall, were rescued by quickfire contributions from Milan Rathnayake (41 off 19) and Nuwanidu Fernando (39 off 35), posting 170/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing, Afghanistan A stumbled initially but regained composure through Sediqullah Atal’s 54 off 27 and Imran Mir’s 34 off 21. Despite a late surge from Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan reached 171/7 with just one ball to spare, showcasing calm under pressure in the final overs.
Afghanistan’s bowlers set the platform for the victory, with Bilal Sami claiming 4 wickets and Allah Ghazanfar taking 3, striking at crucial moments to prevent Sri Lanka A from building a commanding total.
The win gives Afghanistan A a vital boost in the group stage, highlighting their ability to handle tight chases and capitalize with the ball. Sri Lanka A, despite flashes of brilliance in the middle order, will regret letting a strong total slip from their grasp.
