U19 World Cup: Afghanistan defend 135 to beat Sri Lanka by four runs, reach semi-final
India Today
U19 World Cup: Vinjua Ranpul recorded figures of 5/10 as Sri Lanka dismissed Afghanistan for just 134 runs but they themselves went on to be all out for 130 runs.
An inspired bowling performance and Sri Lanka's inability to keep calm while batting helped Afghanistan win a low-scoring thriller and secure their place in the Super League semi-final of the 2022 U19 World Cup. Afghanistan was all-out for just 134 runs, with Vinjua Ranpul taking five wickets.
However, all five Afghanistan's bowlers took at least a wicket each while the Sri Lankan batters themselves fell to four run outs as they capitulated for 130 runs. The innings ended with a run out caused by mix-up with Sri Lanka needing just five runs to win off 25 balls.
Put to bat, Afghanistan openers Nangeyalia Kharote and Bilal Sayedi looked solid for the opening 10 overs before Traveen Mathew struck with a wicked delivery that removed Sayedi.
Kharote departed in the very next over and when skipper Suliman Safi was trapped LBW after making just one, Afghanistan were reeling.
Ijaz Ahmadzai lost his wicket without troubling the scoreboard, but fellow middle-order batter Abdul Hadi was able to steady the ship with a crucial 37-run knock.
Vinjua Ranpul then helped clear-out the tail for Sri Lanka, ending with a five-wicket haul at the expense of just ten runs.
The Sri Lankan reply was shaky from the start. Opener Sadisha Rajapaksa went for a duck in the opening over, and his replacement Shevon Daniel went for just 2 after he was clean bowled by Bilal Sami.
