SL A vs AFG A Highlights: Sediqullah 55, Sami's 3-Fer Power Afghanistan To Win Emerging Asia Cup

Aakash Saini∙ Updated: Oct 27 2024, 10:20 PM | 3 Min Read

Afghanistan A won the 2024 Emerging Asia Cup [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

Afghanistan A overpowered their Sri Lankan counterparts in the final of the 2024 Emerging Asia Cup at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground on October 27. The seven-wicket victory attained by Darwish Rasooli’s troops helped Afghanistan A clinch their first-ever Emerging Asia Cup title.

Here’s the timeline of how SL A vs AFG A panned out in Al Amerat:

SL A vs AFG A Highlights: Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami Devastate Sri Lankan Top-Order At 15-4

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka A lost each of their top four batters within the first five overs of the match for just 15 on the board. In-form openers Yashodha Lanka and Lahiru Udara acceded to young Afghan A pacer Bilal Sami for just one and five runs respectively.

Sami’s new ball partner and right-arm off-spinner AM Ghazanfar himself struck twice in his opening spell with the key wickets of Sri Lanka A captain Nuwanidu Fernando and number four batter Ahan Wickramasinghe.

Jolted by the early setback, the Sri Lankans huffed and puffed their way to 25-4 by the end of the opening powerplay.

SL A vs AFG A Highlights: Sahan Arachchige’s 64* Powerlifts Sri Lanka A To 133

Combining forces at 15-4, Sri Lanka A middle-order batters Pavan Rathnayake and Sahan Arachchige attained some respectability for their team’s faltering innings with a steady 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Employing cautious and tactical stroke-play, Rathnayake carved 20 runs from 21 deliveries with a lone six before he was run out by Darwish Rasooli at 65-5 in 12 overs.

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Arachchige marched on to list a valiant half-century, scoring 64* runs in all from 47 balls with six boundaries to powerlift Sri Lanka A total to 133-7. Nimesh Vimukthi at number seven also chipped with 23 runs in the backend of the innings.

For Afghanistan A, AM Ghazanfar seized figures of 2-14 while Bilal Sami added another wicket to his tally in the slog overs to finish with 3-22.

SL A vs AFG A Highlights: Atal And Karim Janat Take Charge After Early Losses

Emboldened with his batting act in the first half of the game, Sri Lanka A spinner Sahan Arachchige struck off the first ball of the Afghanistan A run-chase by knocking over Zubaid Akbari with a peach.

Akbari’s opening partner Sediqullah Atal subsequently salvaged a 43-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Darwish Rasooli. The Afghanistan A skipper pumped out 24 runs off 20 balls from his end with two fours and a six before falling to Dushan Hemantha (1-26) in the seventh over of the innings.

At the halfway stage of the innings, Afghanistan A reached 55-2 to require another 79 runs from the remaining 60 balls.

SL A vs AFG A Highlights: Sediqullah Atal Navigates AFG A To Historic Title Victory

Sediqullah Atal meticulously calculated his run-chase approach to perfection as his run-a-ball 55*, and partnerships with Karim Janat (33 off 27) and Mohammad Ishaq (16* off 6) helped Afghanistan A storm past Sri Lanka A by seven wickets in the penultimate over of the match.

The outcome helped Afghanistan A claim the 2024 Emerging T20 Men’s Asia Cup trophy, securing the title for the first time in history.

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