ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2022: Afghanistan Script Remarkable Four-Run Win vs Sri Lanka to Enter Semifinal

The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2022 quarterfinal in North Sound produced an absolute classic. In a low-scoring encounter between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, it was Afghanistan that came out on top. No one had given them a chance after they were dismissed for 134. But, Afghanistan’s bowlers produced a brilliant performance that symbolized their never-say-die attitude. In the end, it was a run-out that sealed Sri Lanka’s fate as they lost by four runs to crash out of the tournament. Afghanistan will now play England in the semifinals.

The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup clash ebbed and flowed throughout. The bowlers enjoyed their day on a wicket that was sluggish right from ball one. No batsmen got their eye in. Afghanistan seemed to have succumbed to the guile of the Sri Lanka bowlers. But, Sri Lanka panicked in the face of superb discipline shown by the Afghanistan bowlers. In the end, the joy that reverberated around Coolidge stadium in Antigua was a sight to behold. Afghanistan was in tears while Sri Lanka was in total despair.

Afghanistan sink to the guile of Sri Lanka’s Vinuja Ranpul in ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022

Sri Lanka chose to bowl but Afghanistan made a slow but steady start. A short rain break did not impact Afghanistan’s momentum. At the end of 10 overs, they had crawled to 24/0 on a wicket that was becoming difficult for the batters. However, Treveen Mathew, who had bowled two consecutive maidens ended with a wicket maiden as he dismissed Bilal Sayedi for 6.

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Vinuja Ranpul then started spinning a web. He dismissed Nangeyalia Kharote as Afghanistan scored just one run in five overs. Ranpul then ran through the middle order, dismissing Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and Suliman Safi in the 14^th over. Ranpul, playing his first match in the tournament, was simply unplayable. At the other end, Sri Lanka’s in-form skipper Dunith Wellalage tightened the screws.

Abdul Hadi then hit two fours to break the shackles while Allah Noor gave him good company. The partnership seemed to be revive Afghanistan. The partnership neared fifty but Wellalage dismissed Allah Noor for 25. Mohammad Ishaq looked to up the ante by hammering Raveen de Silva for a six but he fell to Yasiru Rodrigo.

Abdul Hadi and Noor Ahmad stitched another solid stand, with Hadi smashing a six to take Afghanistan past 100. Noor Ahmad also followed suit with two sixes off Rodrigo. Noor was in tremendous hitting form, blasting two sixes off Wellalage. But, Ranpul sent back the dangerous Noor Ahmad for 30 while Wellalage dismissed Hamid for 37. The Sri Lanka skipper then sent back Bilal Sami and Ranpul ended with a five-wicket haul by dismissing Izharulhaq. Afghanistan ended on 134 and it could have been lesser had it not been for the brilliance of Noor Ahmad and Abdul Hadi.

Sri Lanka batters fail against disciplined Afghanistan bowlers

Sri Lanka started disastrously when Sadisha Rajapaksa fell to Bilal Sami in the first over. Sami then struck again as he removed Shevon Daniel for 2. When Sakuna Liyanage was run-out and Naveed Zadran sent back Anjala Bandara, Sri Lanka was in big trouble. Noor Ahmad then trapped Ranuda Somarathne to reduce Sri Lanka to 30/5. Afghanistan eased the pressure slightly by conceding too many wides but Sri Lanka did not capitalize.

Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Yasiru Rodrigo were run out as Sri Lanka committed harakiri. At 45/7, Afghanistan seemed to nearing a miracle win. But, Wellalage refused to give up. He stitched a stand with Raveen de Silva to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt. In the 23^rd over, Sri Lanka smashed the first boundary off the innings. Wellalage and Raveen de Silva’s partnership got Sri Lanka closer.

Wellalage smashed two boundaries off Nangeyalia Kharote to ensure the partnership went past fifty. Afghanistan’s wide count went past 31 as Sri Lanka neared the win. But, Kharote sent back Wellalage for 34 as Afghanistan believed. IzharulHaq then sent back Raveen de Silva for 21 as Afghanistan neared the win. Treveen Mathew and Ranpul then held firm to get Sri Lanka’s target to under 10 runs. However, with five runs needed, Mathew was run out and it sparked wild scenes of celebration in the Afghanistan team.