Victory not enough for Australia
Australia beat Sri Lanka by two runs in a thrilling climax to Group C in Rajshahi but it was not enough to secure the holders a passage to the Super League.
Australia finished the group stage level on points with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe but a poorer net run rate means that they were third in the group and will compete for the Plate Championship instead of the main prize.
A sell-out crowd at the Rajshahi Divisional Stadium was treated to a fascinating duel that was only decided when Manoj Chanaka was caught off the first ball of the final over with Sri Lanka two runs short.
After being put into bat and scoring 186 for 9 in 50 overs, Australia needed to restrict Sri Lanka to less than 98 to qualify for the Super League at their opponents' expense.
By the second ball of the sixth over it looked as though Australia might make it. Sri Lanka's top four were all back in the pavilion with only 10 runs on the board. Aussie left-armer Gary Putland took three of these early wickets.
But then Sri Lanka captain Farveez Maharoof joined Kaushal Silva at the crease and the pair patiently took the sting out of Australia's attack.
Scoring at little more than three-an-over the pair carried Sri Lanka to safety so that when Maharoof was dismissed in the 30th over for 56 with the score on 106, only pride was at stake for the Australians.
Sri Lanka's lower order picked up the run-rate so that three runs were needed for victory off the last over but in the end they ran out of wickets.
Maharoof was named man of the match.
"It is very difficult to win if the top order don't score any runs but I am pleased to have scored some runs and I hope we can play much better as a team in the Super League," said Maharoof.
Australia's coach Bennett King praised his team for their attitude in the final match.
"If our boys had performed the way they did today in the match against Zimbabwe then we would be going to Dhaka tomorrow but instead we are heading to Chittagong to play in the Plate," said King.
Australia will contest Group 1 of the Plate Championship with Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Scotland.
The other Plate Championship group contains Bangladesh, Canada, Ireland and Uganda
The Super League matches will be played in Dhaka, while the Plate Championship will be held in Chittagong. There is a rest-day on Saturday before the next round of matches on 22 February.
