ABU DHABI: Middle-order batsman Rahmat Shah struck a solid half century to lift Afghanistan to 249 in the crucial Asia Cup Group ‘B’ match against Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Monday.

Rahmat struck five boundaries during his 90-ball knock of 72 and added 50 for the second wicket with opener Ihsanullah Janat (45) after Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.

Ihsanullah hit six boundaries in his 65-ball innings while his burly opening partner Mohammad Shahzad batted in his

typically aggressive style, hitting a six and four boundaries in his 47-ball 34.

For Sri Lanka, who lost the opening match to Bangladesh by 137 runs in Dubai, seamer Thisara Perera took five wickets for 55 runs and spinner Akila Dananjaya finished with two for 39 in 10 tidy overs.

Defending champions India, Pakistan and qualifiers Hong Kong are placed in Group ‘A’.

Hong Kong, who lost to Pakistan by eight wickets, face India on Tuesday.

Top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stages from where top two teams will play the final in Dubai on Sept 28.

Scoreboard

AFGHANISTAN:

Mohammad Shahzad lbw b Dananjaya 34 Ihsanullah Janat lbw b Dananjaya 45 Rahmat Shah c T Perera b Chameera 72 Asghar Afghan lbw b Jayasuriya 1 Hashmatullah Shahidi b T. Perera 37 Mohammad Nabi c T. Perera b Malinga 15 Najibullah Zadran b T. Perera 12 Gulbadin Naib c Dananjaya b T. Perera 4 Rashid Khan b T. Perera 13 Aftab Alam not out 7 Mujeeb Ur Rahman b T. Perera 0 EXTRAS (LB-2, W-7) 9 TOTAL (all out; 50 overs) 249 FALL OF WKTS: 1-57, 2-107, 3-110, 4-190, 5-203, 6-222, 7-227, 8-249, 9-249.BOWLING: Malinga 10-0-66-1 (3w); Chameera 10-2-43-1 (1w); N.L.T.C. Perera 9-0-55-5; Dananjaya 10-0-39-2 (3w); de Silva 5-0-22-0; Jayasuriya 6-0-22-1.SRI LANKA: B.K.G. Mendis, W.U. Tharanga, M.D.K.J. Perera, D.M. de Silva, A.D. Mathews, M.D. Shanaka, G.S.N.F.G. Jayasuriya N.L.T.C. Perera, A. Dananjaya, P.V.D. Chameera, S.L. Malinga.UMPIRES: G.O. Brathwaite (West Indies) and Ahsan Raza (Pakistan).TV UMPIRE: M. Erasmus (South Africa).MATCH REFEREE: D.J. Boon (Australia).

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2018