Afghanistan 'A' beat Sri Lanka 'A' to claim first-ever Emerging Teams Asia Cup title

Afghanistan 'A' claimed their first-ever ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup title, defeating Sri Lanka 'A' by seven wickets in a commanding final held on Sunday.

The team successfully chased down a modest target of 134 runs, finishing at 137 for 3 in just 18.1 overs. Openers Sediqullah Atal and Zubair Akbari laid the foundation for victory, with Atal scoring a quick 55 off 32 balls.

After an early setback when Akbari was dismissed on the first ball, Atal steadied the innings alongside Darwish Rasoli. Karim Janat contributed a brisk 33 off 27 balls, sealing the win for Afghanistan.

Earlier, Afghanistan’s bowlers put in a dominant performance after winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Allah Gul Ghazanfar and Bilal Sami each took two wickets during the powerplay, restricting Sri Lanka to a modest 133 all out.

Atal's impressive showing throughout the tournament earned him the titles of Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament, with a remarkable total of 367 runs.

This victory marks a significant achievement for Afghanistan 'A' in emerging as a competitive force in the region's cricketing landscape.