Sri Lanka brought high-flying Afghanistan back down to earth, crushing them by 129 runs in Dhaka on Monday to become the first side to qualify for the 2014 Asia Cup final.
Sri Lanka’s third consecutive win in the tournament also has knocked five-time champions India out of title race, as they cannot overtake the Islanders or Pakistan in the points table under normal equation.
Defending champions Pakistan will join Sri Lanka in the March 8 final if they can beat Bangladesh in their last round-robin match today.
A Bangladesh win over Pakistan, however, would throw the tournament open, leaving the hosts and Afghanistan with some hope of qualifying.
Sri Lanka, who missed the final two years ago, were not ready to wait until their last match and put on a clinical performance to bowl Afghanistan out for 129 runs in 38.4 overs after winning the toss and posting 253-6.
The in-form Kumar Sangakkara set up the win with 76 off 102 balls, his second fifty in the tournament coming after a match-winning 103 against India on Friday.
Sangakkara, who has been in awesome form since the preceding bilateral tour of Bangladesh in which he scored 319 and 105 in the second Test in Chittagong and 128 in the second ODI, held the innings together after Sri Lanka made a shaky start.
Afghanistan, buoyed on by their 32-run win over hosts Bangladesh, managed to create some early pressure as Shapoor Zadran bowled Lahiru Thirimanne for five and medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf grabbed the wickets of Kusal Perera (33) and Mahela Jayawardene (14).
Sangakkara put on 74 runs with Dinesh Chandimal for the fourth wicket to help his side recover from 83-3 before two wickets in two overs gave Afghanistan a chance to come back into the game.
Left-arm spinner Hamza Hotak bowled Chandimal with a beautifully turning delivery and Sangakkara was run out in the next over following a mix-up with skipper Angelo Mathews.
Mathews kept his cool to provide some late sparkle, adding an unbeaten 45 from 41 balls, which helped Sri Lanka pass the 250-run mark.
Thisara Perera (19 not out) gave Mathews some much-needed support and the pair put on 69 runs in their unbroken seventh-wicket stand.
Perera completed his all-round show to finish with 3-29, which took the heart out of the Afghanistan innings.
Sri Lanka were without Sachithra Senanayake, their main spinner in the one-day side, who left temporarily for home to see his new-born baby.
However, Ajantha Mendis ensured that they did not feel his absence, claiming 3-11 and helping to abruptly end Afghanistan’s innings.
Skipper Mohammad Nabi top-scored for Afghanistan with 37 runs from 43 balls with three fours and a six.
Afghanistan collapsed after Nabi’s leg-before dismissal to Chaturanga de Silva, as they lost their last five wickets for four runs.
BRIEF SCORES
Sri Lanka 253-6 in 50 overs (K Sangakkara 76, A Mathews 45 not out, K Perera 33, D Chandimal 26; M Ashraf 2-29) v Afghanistan 124 in 38.4 overs (M Nabi 37, A Stanikzai 27; A Mendis 3-11, T Perera 3-29).
Result: Sri Lanka won by 129 runs.
Man of the match: K Sanagakkara (SL)
-With New Age input
