<p>A spirited Afghanistan defeated the reigning champions Sri Lanka by eight runs on Wednesday to advance to the Asian Games semifinal against Pakistan. Gulbadin Naib and Qais Ahmad both claimed three wickets in the victory.</p>
<p>The Afghans, who were sent in to bat, were removed for only 116 in the 19th over on a field in Hangzhou that had speed, sharp turn, and ferocious bounce.<img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-217857″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/theindiaprint.com-police-in-england-release-a-criminals-cgi-after-being-trolled-for-his-alien-appear.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com police in england release a criminals cgi after being trolled for his alien appear” width=”1120″ height=”627″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/theindiaprint.com-police-in-england-release-a-criminals-cgi-after-being-trolled-for-his-alien-appear.jpg 300w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/theindiaprint.com-police-in-england-release-a-criminals-cgi-after-being-trolled-for-his-alien-appear-150×84.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1120px) 100vw, 1120px” title=”Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka in the Asian Games, setting up a semifinal matchup with Pakistan 3″></p>
<p>The only opposition came from Noor Ali Zadran’s 51 as seamer Nuwan Thushara scored 4–17.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka’s total seemed to be reachable, but they botched the run chase, being bowled out for 108 thanks to veteran quick Naib’s 3-28 and teenage leg-spinner Ahmad’s 3-16.</p>
<p>Afghanistan finished second in each of the Twenty20 cricket tournaments held at the Asian Games—in Incheon (2014) and Guangzhou (2010)—to Bangladesh and then Sri Lanka.</p>
<p>Numerous top-tier players, such as all-rounder Naib and hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shahzad, were brought to China by them.</p>
<p>But a youthful Sri Lankan onslaught proved to be their equal.</p>
<p>When Thushara faced Australia in Sydney last year, he bowled opener Sediqullah Atal for one with his first delivery.</p>
<p>Zadran and Shahzad (20) stabilized the situation and added 54 runs for the next wicket.</p>
<p>However, the floodgates opened when Shahidullah (23) became the third man out, resulting in eight wickets falling for 24 with none of the last seven batsmen reaching double digits.</p>
<p>However, the uneven pitch was an issue for Sri Lanka as well, making it difficult to score boundaries and for anybody to advance.</p>
<p>Although Shevon Daniel, a young opener, is considered to be a coming star, he only got nine runs on his T20 debut due to Naib’s difficulties with the top order.</p>
<p>When skipper Sahan Arachchige was run out for 22, Sri Lanka was reeling on 78-7 and there was no turning back. Ahmad’s leg-spin then assisted in reducing Sri Lanka to that score.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Malaysia and Bangladesh square off in the second quarterfinal, with the victor facing India for a spot in the championship game.</p>