Sri Lanka beats Afghanistan in a thriller

The energetic Sri Lanka baseball outfit managed to register a fine victory in a thrilling encounter on the third day of the BFA XVI West Asia Baseball Cup 2025, at the Karaj Complex Stadium in Iran. During the game, fine performances by Lankan batters and pitchers helped Sri Lanka to bounce back from their unlucky loss to India by posting a crucial 7 – 6 win.

Afghanistan’s lads made an impressive start, scoring three runs in the first inning, while Sri Lanka failed to score any. After the completion of the first innings, the Afghans were in the driver’s seat as the Sri Lankan pitchers failed to give any significant resistance to the rivals.

The second inning went without scoring, and Sri Lanka cruised into the game and added two runs in the third inning, cutting the deficit to 3 – 2. Sri Lanka carried their momentum into the fourth inning by scoring another run to square the game as 3 – 3.

Both teams had a scoreless fifth inning, and Sri Lanka made the sixth inning a match-winning inning by scoring four crucial runs. Sri Lankan pitchers recovered well after conceding 3 runs in the initial inning, and they did an exceptional job to grant five consecutive scoreless innings to the Afghans.

During the last three innings Afghans tried to counterattack, but the 3 runs that they scored were not enough to beat the formidable side from the island nation. After the completion of 9 innings by the Afghans, they were trailing by a run, and there wasn’t any need for Sri Lanka to strike for their 9th inning, as the game was already in their bag.

Dinesh Nilanga and Gayathra Amasara scored two runs each, while Iresh Kosala, Thushara Madushanka and Ranjan Kumara chipped in with one run apiece.

Results of the other games

Group A

• India 1 – 6 Palestine
• India 3 – 2 Sri Lanka
• Palestine 22 – 7 Afghanistan

Group B

• Bangladesh 6 – 7 Iran
• Pakistan 10 – 6 Bangladesh
• Pakistan 14 – 0 Iran