After defeats to Australia and New Zealand, Sri Lanka could not afford another slip-up and produced a commanding performance at the Gabba.
Afghanistan were limited to 144-8, in which six batters reached double figures, but nobody went further than Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 28 at the top of the order.
That was in a large part down to man of the match Hasaranga's wily leg spin that brought him brilliant figures of 3-13, including the wickets of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the final over.
Sri Lanka were 46-2 after 7.5 overs of their reply, but Dhananjaya was in no mood to let this one slip away, and his sublime unbeaten 66 from 42 balls saw the team home.
He cracked two sixes and six fours, including the boundary through cover that saw Sri Lanka over the winning line with nine balls to spare, reaching 148-4, nicely teeing up their final Group 1 game against England at the SCG on Saturday.
Hail Hasaranga
Already the leading performer with the ball in this year's tournament, Hasaranga's haul improved his tally to 13 wickets, and trimmed his average to 13.53.
This time around he delivered 12 dot balls and avoided being struck for a boundary as Afghanistan struggled to read him, defeat ending their hopes of going any further.
Mujeeb edges nearer landmark
Mujeeb Ur Rahman took 2-24 for Afghanistan, removing Pathum Nissanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, to reach 48 wickets in T20Is. After washouts against Ireland and New Zealand, he and his team-mates would have been glad to play some part in a contest on Tuesday.
Now off-spinner Mujeeb has one more chance while at this tournament to become the third Afghanistan bowler to reach 50 T20I wickets, with Afghanistan rounding off their campaign against hosts Australia on Friday in Adelaide.
Wanindu Hasaranga's 47-ball 71, along with 61 from Pathum Nissanka, which came from the same amount of deliveries, propelled the 2014 winners to 171-7.
The 172 target proved well beyond Ireland, who were dismissed for 101 with nine balls left, Hasaranga also taking a wicket and bowling a team-high 14 dot balls in a Man of the Match display.
It means Sri Lanka can top Group A with a win over the Netherlands, whose hopes came to an end with defeat to Namibia.
Max O'Dowd hit a 56-ball 70 for Netherlands as they posted 164-4, however, David Wiese's unbeaten 66 ensured Namibia got over the line for a six-wicket win with six balls left.
England are among the tournament favourites and they underlined that status with a 13-run warm-up win over New Zealand in which Jos Buttler delivered a scarcely needed reminder of his class by hitting 11 fours and two maximums for his 73.
Mark Wood (4-23) and Adil Rashid (3-18) impressed with the ball for England, who were runners-up in 2016 to West Indies.
The Windies seemingly have work to do ahead of the Super 12 after a 56-run defeat to Afghanistan, who saw Hazratullah Zazai (56) and Mohammad Shahzad (54) hit half-centuries.
Rassie van der Dussen, meanwhile, looks in ominous form for South Africa, his 51-ball 101 comprising of 10 fours and four maximums as South Africa saw off Pakistan by six wickets.
The left-arm paceman rolled his ankle during a fielding drill ahead of Monday's warm-up win over Pakistan at the Gabba.
Topley will be assessed before Jos Buttler's side take on Afghanistan in their Group 1 opener at Perth Stadium.
England will face a qualifier in their second World Cup match next Wednesday, then face hosts Australia two days later.
The quick has made an impressive return to the international stage after fears his career could be over due to back injuries.
Topley played in all three of England's matches in the recent T20I series win over Australia, having featured in four of the seven games in the 4-3 victory in Pakistan.
The defending champions, skippered by stand-in Matthew Wade in the absence of the injured Aaron Finch, set a total of 168-8 thanks to a fine 54 not out from their middle-order batsman.
With handy support from Mitchell Marsh (45) and Marcus Stoinis (25), the hosts seldom looked as if they would be seriously troubled by their Group 1 rivals.
But Naveen-ul-Haq's tidy figures of 3-21 gave Afghanistan an achievable target to chase, and a strong third-wicket partnership between Gulbadin Naib (39) and Ibrahim Zadran (26) kept them firmly in the hunt.
After Maxwell effected a run-out of the former, a top-order collapse appeared to spell the end for Mohammad Nabi's side, but a thrilling final burst from Rashid Khan (48) guided them close to an upset with a 164-7 finish.
Success vaults Australia into the top two for now, but their progress to the last four will only be confirmed if England fail to overcome Sri Lanka in Sydney on Saturday, due to an inferior net run rate.
Magic Maxwell spares blushes
Make no mistake, this was far from a poor Australia performance, but with a negative net run rate at the end, it was not quite up to the mark they would have hoped to achieve.
No accusations can be levelled at Maxwell, however, whose knock off 32 balls was arguably trumped in importance by his direct hit to dismiss Naib, stopping Afghanistan's momentum and turning the tide.
Khan showcases stirring stuff
Few players are quite as exciting to watch as the Afghanistan man when he is in full flight, and so it proved again after he set up a surprisingly tense finale.
His innings, taken off 23 balls with four maximums, was up there with the best at this tournament.
Super 8 qualifiers are:
- Group A: India and USA
- Group B: Australia and England
- Group C: West Indies and Afghanistan
- Group D: South Africa and Bangladesh
The eight teams will be divided into two groups:
- Group A: India, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh
- Group B: USA, England, West Indies, South Africa
Four of the Super 8 qualifiers have won the World Cup previously, India, England, West Indies and Australia. Super 8 matches will be played across four West Indies venues: Antigua and Barbuda (four matches), Barbados (three matches), Saint Lucia (three matches) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (two matches).
Each team will play every other team in its group once, with the top two sides in each group qualifying for the semi-finals, to be played in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana on 26 and 27 June, respectively.
The Super Eight stage commences in Antigua on Wednesday 19 June with a clash between USA and South Africa at 10h30. That same evening West Indies take on old rivals, England in Saint Lucia. The two sides have a prolific cricketing history, with the co-hosts ensuring a dominant display at home against England in recent years.
Full Fixtures (Local time)
19 June
USA v South Africa, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (10h30)
England v West Indies, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia (20h30)
20 June
Afghanistan v India, Kensington Oval, Barbados (10h30)
Australia v Bangladesh, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (20h30)
21 June
England v South Africa, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia (10h30)
USA v West Indies, Kensington Oval, Barbados (20h30)
22 June
India v Bangladesh, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (10h30)
Afghanistan v Australia, Arnos Vale, St Vincent (20h30)
23 June
USA v England, Kensington Oval, Barbados (10h30)
West Indies v South Africa, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua (20h30)
24 June
Australia v India, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia (10h30)
Afghanistan v Bangladesh, Arnos Vale, St Vincent (20h30)
Cricket across the globe is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, though a schedule for Australia has been drawn up for later in the year.
After facing Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series at venues yet to be determined, Australia will play three Twenty20s against both West Indies and India.
Perth Stadium will then host a one-off Test against Afghanistan in November, with a four-Test series against India – along with three ODIs – scheduled for December.
However, the Perth venue has not been selected to host any of the Tests, with Brisbane preferred, a decision which has left WACA's top officials bemused.
"This is the second time we haven't had India scheduled, the last time we were told it was because our venue wasn't good enough and if we supported a new stadium, this would never happen again, and here we are again," CEO Matthews told reporters.
"I want to make it clear, hosting a Test is a privilege, not a right and we understand that, and we're as privileged to host Afghanistan as anyone else and we'll certainly put on a really good show and welcome Afghanistan to the Test arena in Australia.
"But suffice to say, not having India tour here for the second time in six years is very disappointing for us, for our members, for our fans, and I daresay for the government who has put in a lot of time and effort into creating a stadium that has been recognised around the world as the most beautiful stadium in the world and in fact, was rated as the second-best cricket ground in Australia in a survey.
"So we've been a little bit bemused and disappointed how we haven't been scheduled for one of the prime series in the cricket calendar."
WACA chairman Waldrom added: "I actually think it's the wrong decision, we made a really compelling case, along with the government to CA, I looked at that again this morning, and when I went through it, I just can't understand why they'd make that decision.
"I do understand it's difficult for CA, they have to make the call and we will now pick up the cudgels and we'll get on with it. Afghanistan are an exciting, emerging team.
"But I am disappointed and I actually think it is a kick in the guts to WA, to all our cricket-loving people in WA and to our WACA members.
"When you've got one of the best stadiums in the world and when you've got the second-best cricket venue, the time slot back to India for TV, to me it's a no brainer.
"I understand it's a tough decision for CA, good luck to Queensland and we wish them all the best. We'll keep putting the pressure on because we've got a responsibility to cricket in WA, to cricket supporters, to fans and to our members."
The young West Indies finished fifth in the competition won by Bangladesh, who were claiming their maiden world title.
Despite not making it to the semi-final, the West Indies did have some impressive performances with both bat and ball.
Young, for instance, became the first West Indian to take a five-for (5-45) and score a half century (66) in an under-19 match when he helped the side to a dominant victory over England in the first round. His 61 was also instrumental in helping the West Indies get past Australia.
Young would end the tournament with an average of 28 with the bat and eight wickets from six games at an average of 26.75.
For his performances, Young makes the side as the designated number six batsman.
Understandably, further down the order lies Seales, who is an out-and-out strike bowler, having taken 10 wickets with a best of 4-19 against Australia at an impressive average of 18.3. He was also miserly when not taking wickets, ending the tournament with an economy rate of 3.89 runs per over.
Only India and Bangladesh have more players in the team of the tournament with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi and Kartik Tyagi, making the cut.
Tournament winners Bangladesh have Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shahadat Hossain making the team as batsmen, with Akbar Ali chosen to keep wicket.
Afghanistan, like the West Indies, have two players in the side with Ibrahim Zadran and Shafiqullah Ghafari making the cut.
Canada’s Akil Kumar is the team’s 12th man.
Batting first, Afghanistan set a formidable total of 189-5 from their 20 overs. They owed their total a 90-run opening stand by Hazratullah ZaZai and Mohammed Shahzad, who dispatched the West Indies wayward bowling to all parts.
Zazai was especially brutal smashing eight fours and two sixes in his 35-ball innings before he was first out in the ninth over, caught in the deep by Evin Lewis from the bowling of Hayden Walsh Jr.
Shahzad and Rahmanullah Gurbaz continued apace putting on 39 for the second wicket when the former was dismissed by Ravi Rampaul for 54. Like his opening partner, he faced 35 balls but only managed six fours and a six off the generous West Indies bowling.
Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran added an even 50 for the third wicket while putting the West Indies under further pressure. However, both were dismissed by consecutive deliveries from Obed McCoy for 33 and 23, respectively before the innings closed at 189-5.
McCoy was the best of the West Indies bowlers but he proved expensive with figures of 2-41.
The West Indies were in early trouble chasing 190, their vulnerability to spin laid bare, as Lendl Simmons was out second ball to Mohammed Nabi, who also removed Evin Lewis for 3 and Shimron Hetmyer for two, to return the incredible figures of 4-2-2-3 that left the West Indies top order in shambles at 27-3 in the seventh over.
It could have been worse had Lewis not been dropped at slip off Nabi, who then dropped a simple return catch from the opener off his own bowling.
Roston Chase provided some stability scoring an unbeaten 54 from 58 balls and he and Nicholas Pooran (35) put on 70 for the fourth wicket but by the time Pooran was dismissed in the 15th over, the West Indies needed more than 17 runs an over.
After Pooran’s dismissal, the West Indies limped to 133-5 from their allotment.
On Saturday, the West Indies lost their opening match against Pakistan by seven wickets.
The schedule for the tournament in the United Arab Emirates and Oman was confirmed on Tuesday, with the final taking place in Dubai on November 14.
Pakistan and India will do battle in their opening Super12 Group 2 match at 6 pm local time.
New Zealand will get their bid for glory underway against Pakistan in Sharjah two days later, while Afghanistan begin their campaign on 25 October against a qualifier
Holders West Indies play England in a repeat of the dramatic 2016 final in debut on October 23, the same day as Group 1 rivals Australia face South Africa in Abu Dhabi.
The opening game of the competition will see co-hosts Oman come up against Papua New Guinea in Group B on October 17, with Scotland and Bangladesh in action on the same day.
The first semi-final will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and the second will be staged in Dubai the following day.
West Indies T20 World Cup schedule
23 October
England vs West Indies
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
26 October
South Africa vs West Indies
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
29 October
West Indies vs B2
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
4 November
West Indies A1
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
6 November
Australia vs West Indies
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Rain stopped play with Afghanistan on 133-5 after 15 overs, needing 40 runs from 30 balls as they chased down a victory target of 173 in Greater Noida, India.
Afghanistan beat West Indies in their most recent T20I series and Zadran ensured they got over the line on Friday, his 42 runs from 21 balls coming in a crucial partnership of 63 with Samiullah Shinwari (28).
Paul Stirling (60) and Kevin O'Brien (35) had earlier given Ireland an electric start, though their innings lost momentum after the openers had been dismissed, with Rashid recording impressive figures of 3-22 from his four overs.
