Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by four runs in a low-scoring match at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on Friday, earning a place in the Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal (IST).
Afghanistan has joined England as the second team to qualify for the tournament's Super League last four.
Suliman Safi's side took up the challenge of defending a low total, bowling Sri Lanka out for 130 with four overs to spare, despite only setting a target of 135 after being bowled out in 47.1 overs.Sri Lanka captain Dunith Wellalage's composed delayed batting (34 off 61 balls) raised hopes of a win, but Afghanistan edged the low-scoring thriller to reach the last four, duplicating their performance in the 2018 tournament in New Zealand.
On February 1, they will play England in the first Super League semifinal at the Sir Viv Richards Cricket Ground.
After winning the toss, Wellalage's team picked to bowl, and for the first few overs, it was impossible to know whether they had made the right option. For the opening ten overs, Afghanistan openers Nangeyalia Kharote and Bilal Sayedi looked strong, but Traveeen Mathew struck with a powerful delivery that removed Sayed. Charlotte left the next over, and Afghanistan was in trouble when skipper Suliman Safi was caught LBW after only making one.
After that, Vinjua Ranpul helped Sri Lanka in removing the tail, finishing with a five-wicket haul for just ten runs. Afghanistan was all out for just 134 runs when he caught Izharulhaq Naveed.
Sri Lanka's response was weak. Sasha Rajapaksa was bowled for a duck in the first over, and Shevon Daniel was clean bowled by Bilal Sami for just two runs.
They were in serious trouble after 13 overs when Noor Ahmed bowled a superb delivery to dismiss Ranuda Somarathne and throw Sri Lanka into confusion. Their hopes of winning the ICC U-19 Men's Cricket World Cup for the first time began to fade rapidly at that point. However, captain Wellalage and Raveen de Silva's eight-wicket stand stood out, taking Sri Lanka from 43/7 to 112.
After that, Charlotte took the important wicket of the skipper, who had played quickly, and Naveed took the wicket of de Silva, setting up a nail-biting end. Sri Lanka came within five runs of winning the game, but a fourth run-out of the innings lost Mathew the final wicket, giving Afghanistan a thrilling victory.