Afghanistan U19s defeated Sri Lanka U19s by 32 runs (D/L method) in their rain-affected ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018 encounter worked out in Whangarei on Wednesday.
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The Asian Champions, Afghanistan were sent into bat by the Lankan skipper Kamindu Mendis. Left-arm seamer Thisaru Rashmika picked up the first wicket in the 7th over but the Afghan top order – Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil and Darwish Rasooli made half-centuries to lift Afghanistan to a commanding 284 from their 50 overs.
Zadran and Ali Khil constructed a 115-run stand for the second wicket as the former top scored with a 112-ball 86 with 5 sixes and 1 boundary. Afghanistan were 172/3 in the 38th over, but Rasooli then single-handedly propelled the innings with a cracking 44-ball 63.
Rashmika ended up with 2 for 64 while right-arm seamer Nipun Malinga captured 2 late wickets.
Chasing a stiff target, Sri Lanka U19s lost their last match’s centurion Dhananjaya Lakshan in the first over while his opening partner Nipun Dhananjaya edged to first slip as the young lions were 11 for 2 in the 5th over.
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Krishan Sanjula and Jehan Daniel resurrected the innings adding 76 runs for the 3rd wicket and when rain halted play once again in the half-way mark Sri Lanka were 114/3.
The revised target for the islanders were 235 off 38 overs and they sensed a chance. Daniel and skipper Mendis scored 48 and 32 respectively but Azmatullah Omarzai and Afghan captain Naveen-Ul-Haq denied the Lankan low order despite Ashen Bandara’s enterprising 30-ball 38 as they were bundled out for 202 in the final over.
With this win, Afghanistan U19 sealed their place in the quarter-finals while Sri Lanka U19s will now need to beat former champions, Pakistan U19s in their last game on Friday.
AFG U19 – 284/7 in 50 overs: Ibrahim Zadran 86, Ikram Ali Khil 55, Darwish Rasooli 63, Nisar Wahdat 25, Nipun Malinga 2/56, Thisaru Rashmika 2/64.
SL U19 – 202 all out in 37.3 overs: Jehan Daniel 48, Kamindu Mendis 38, Krishan Sanjula 41, Ashen Bandara 38, Naveen-ul-Haq 4/35, Qais Ahmed 2/37.
Man of the Match – Ibrahim Zadran
 in their rain-affected ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018 encounter worked out in Whangarei on Wednesday.){kind=link}