![Under-19 World Cup – Afghanistan defend 134 against Sri Lanka to storm into semi-finals Under-19 World Cup – Afghanistan defend 134 against Sri Lanka to storm into semi-finals](https://abc123sport.com/wp-content/uploads/https://img1.hscicdn.com/image/upload/f_auto/lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/333700/333759.jpg)
Vinuja Ranpul’s 5 for 10 in vain for Sri Lanka
Afghanistan 134 (Hadi 37, Noor 30, Ranpul 5-10) beat Sri Lanka 130 (Wellalage 34, Sami 2-33) by four runs
In a low-scoring thriller between two Asian sides, it was Afghanistan who pipped Sri Lanka to set up an Under-19 World Cup semi-final date with England.
Wellalage and da Silva got together after Sri Lanka had lost their first seven wickets, which included three run-outs, inside the 18th over of the chase. Right-arm seamer Bilal Sami got the length ball to nip away early to induce an edge from opener Sadisha Rajapaksa and then bowled the No. 3 Shevon Daniel with a full ball. Sakuna Liyanage was then run-out from a throw from cover after a mix-up and a Naveed Zadran delivery angling across Anjala Banada took an edge to the keeper to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 24 for 4.
The Wellalage-de Silva stand, though, brought the runs required down to 23, with the duo grinding it out for 142 balls while putting on 69. Wellalage struck three fours in his 34 and de Silva made 21 from 84 balls. But Wellalage was out trying to cut Kharote and de Silva was out to a Naveed googly to leave Sri Lanka with only one wicket in hand and 19 to get. Then it became a game of nerves with Sri Lanka’s final pair adding 14, but Treveen Mathew tried to pinch a single that wasn’t there, costing them their fourth run-out and leaving them agonisingly short of their target.
After Wellalage broke that stand, Hadi and the attacking No. 8 Noor took Afghanistan past 130 in an seventh-wicket stand worth 48. Noor smacked four sixes in his 33-ball 30 to give Afghanistan a batting impetus. He went over cover, down the ground and over long-on, before Ranpul returned in his final spell to break the stand. At 132 for 7, Afghanistan looked on course for a total in excess of 150, but they lost their last four wickets for only two runs.
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx