5. Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2023 Asia Cup:
The Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan match has been considered to be one of the best ODI matches played in recent times. Sri Lanka winning the toss at Lahore decided to bat first and posted a huge total of 291/8 in 50 overs with the help of Kusal Mendis stunning fifty (92). Afghanistan had a task of chasing 292 runs in 37.1 overs to qualify for the Super Fours of the tournament.Afghanistan in the run-chase despite losing early wickets went on to smash 200 runs from just 25.5 overs and stayed in the hunt throughout the match to chase down 292 runs from just 37.1 overs. Mohammad Nabi smashed the fastest-ever fifty for his national side from just 24 balls. Other than Nabi, batters like Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran, and Rashid Khan also kept their side in the Super 4s race with their quick-fire knocks.
Afghanistan scored 277/8 in 50 overs and needed 15 more runs inside 7 balls to qualify for the Super 4s of the tournament. Rashid Khan smacked three boundaries off the Wellalage over and reduced the equation with 3 needed off the last ball to win. Mujeeb Ur Rahman unfortunately in the next over got dismissed to the first ball bowled by Dhananjaya de Silva and the Afghans were in complete disbelief.
The Afghan team weren't aware of the situation that they could still qualify if they had scored 293 runs in 37.2 overs, 294 runs in 37.3 overs, 295 runs in 37.5 overs, 296 runs in 38 overs (or) 297 runs in 38.1 overs. Hence, the Afghan team without knowing this fact ended up playing two consecutive dot balls, and finally the last batter of the Afghan team got out in the next delivery which meant they ended up losing this game by 2 runs when they could have entered the next stage of the game itself if they were aware of their situation.
