Afghanistan's batting line-up has let them down again as they failed to chase down a relatively low target against Sri Lanka today in Sylhet.

Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and chose to bat first, with the opening pair of Kaveen Bandara and Avishka Fernando putting on 48 in the first eight overs. Afghanistan's bowlers put the brakes on the run scoring from then on, as the rate declined through the rest of the innings.

The captain Asalanka held firm, top scoring with 71 as Sri Lanka reached 184 before being bowled out in the 49th over. Shamsurrahman was the pick of the Afghan bowlers with 3-19.

The Afghan reply started slowly, with Naveed Obaid being bowled in the fifth over when the score was just 15. Karim Janat and captain Ihsanullah then put on 36 for the second wicket, the partnership coming to an end when Ihsanullah was trapped lbw for 23.

Janat then watched as a succession of his teammates were dismissed for low scores, and his team were on just 91 when the sixth wicket fell in the 31st over. Janat himself fell in the 39th over, the seventh man out and the score on 116.

Waheedullah Shafaq hit 47 at a run a ball before he was bowled by Damitha Silva, but by then it was too late and Afghanistan were bowled out for 151, losing by 33 runs. The result, combined with Pakistan's win over Canada, confirmed that Afghanistan will not be repeating their last eight finish of the previous Under-19 World Cup.

Afghanistan will next be in action on Monday when they play Canada. Sri Lanka have a little longer to wait for their next match, which will be against Pakistan on Wednesday.