SL VS AFG 3RD QUARTER FINAL

Right then, that is it from this game where Afghanistan progressed to the next round knocking the Lankans out of the tournament. However, we still have one more Quarter-final to come our way where Bangladesh will go up against Malaysia. That game will begin at 11.30 am IST (6 am GMT), but you can just switch tabs to enjoy all the build-up to that game. Cheers!

The Afghan bowlers were on top of their game with Qais Ahmad the young leg spinner picking up three important wickets for the skipper to handicap the middle-order batting lineup of Sri Lanka. Along with him, Gulbadin Naib stood up with the new ball and got rid of both the Lankan openers in the powerplay and picked up three wickets in his spell of 4 overs. In the end, it was a comfortable win by the Afghans, with Noor Ali Zadran scoring a well-played fifty in the first innings to take them to a respectable score on this wicket and then an amazing bowling performance to wrap things up, its Afghanistan who moves into the Semi Final of the Asian Games 2023.

Sri Lanka started their innings chasing down 117 runs in 20 overs. They did not start well as the openers were sent back early by the Afghan bowlers. It was then the struggle from the captain Sahan Arachchige to keep the team in the game but as it turned out, the Afghan spinners were too good for the Lankan batters. The captain scoring the most runs, 22, was the victim of a poor run out in the 14th over. The Sri Lankan lower order battled hard to get those quick singles to keep them in the game but in the end, they fell shot by 8 runs.

With that comes an end to this pendulum of a match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games 2023 where Afghanistan wins the game in a low-scoring thriller and make it to the semis.. Their bowlers have been on the top of their game defending a low score with the wicket being helpful for the bowlers.

OUT! TAKEN! It is all over for Sri Lanka! Karim Janat serves this full and around leg, Nuwan Thushara goes for the slog-sweep and connects well but unfortunately for him, he hits it flat and in the air towards deep backward square leg where Nuwanidu Fernando takes a fine catch under pressure. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 8 RUNS!

A full toss, on middle, Nuwan Thushara bunts it onto the ground as the bounces take it over the bowler towards long off. They cross. Sri Lanka need 9 runs in the last over with one wicket left! This is going down the wire now!

A huge appeal for LBW, but turned down! This is a really close call! Fareed Ahmad serves this full and on off, angling in, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth steps across to slog it away but misses as the ball goes off his pads towards point. A leg bye is taken. It looks like impact was just outside off there.

Three dots in a row! This is full and on off, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth drills it towards short covers.

Fareed Ahmad goes over the wicket and bowls this on a good length, on middle, angling in, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth pushes it back to the bowler.

Fareed Ahmad nails the yorker now, on middle, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth somehow manages to get a bat on it as the ball hits the ground and loops to the keeper.

FOUR! Another crucial boundary for Sri Lanka! Fareed Ahmad lands this short of a length and around leg, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth swivels and hammers it towards the deep square leg fence for four more runs. Sri Lanka need 11 runs now with one wicket remaining.

FOUR! A much-needed boundary for Sri Lanka! Gulbadin Naib serves this full and on off, Nuwan Thushara has a hoick across the line and it goes off the top edge over mid off for a boundary.

Short of a length and outside off, Nuwan Thushara looks to cut it away but fails to connect.

On a length and on middle, slower too, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth works it towards deep square leg for another run.

Full and on off, Nuwan Thushara drives it through covers for a run.

OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Gulbadin Naib gets his third wicket now! He bowls this full and around off, Nimesh Vimukthi backs away and tries to clear mid off but only manages to slice it in the air wide of mid off where Qais Ahmad runs to right and completes a fine catch. Afghanistan one wicket away from the win here!