Dhananjaya de Silva scored an unbeaten 66 as Sri Lanka kept their slim Twenty20 World Cup hopes alive with a six-wicket win over Afghanistan at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday.
The Asia Cup champions moved to four points in Group 1 and can still make the semi-finals, but they need other results to go their way.
Group 1 leaders New Zealand were playing England, who have three points, in a later game at the Gabba on Tuesday after Australia beat Ireland on Monday to move level on five points at the top but behind the Black Caps on net run rate.
The loss means Afghanistan are eliminated as they cannot make the semi-finals with one group match against Australia remaining after having two washouts and a opening defeat to England.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi won the toss and chose to bat but Sri Lanka restricted them to 144-8, thanks largely to a fine spell from leg-spinner and player of the match Wanindu Hasaranga.
The Sri Lankan run chase got off to a poor start when Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun one back to bowl Pathum Nissanka for 10.
