ICC World Cup 2023: Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

Pune, The Gulf Observer: Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets while chasing 242 in the 30th game of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Azmatullah Omarzai scored unbeaten 73 runs off 63 balls and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi scored unbeaten 58 off 74 as the team reached 242/3 in 45.2 overs.

Ibrahim Zadran was dismissed by Madushanka for 39 off 57 balls while Rahmat Shah lost his wicket to Rajitha for 62 off 74 balls. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was bowled out by Madushanka for a duck.

Fazalhaq Farooqi was named Player of the Match (PotM) for his figures of 4/34.

The Afghan side has moved to the 5th spot on the points table, above Sri Lanka and Pakistan. This is their third victory in six matches of the tournament.

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Farooqi proved to be a consistent wicket-taker throughout the innings, while off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman played a crucial role in maintaining pressure with a 2-38 record in his allotted 10 overs.

Sri Lanka’s opener, Pathum Nissanka, displayed promise with a score of 46, but none of the other batsmen managed to surpass skipper Kusal Mendis’ contribution of 39 runs.

In their pursuit of a third victory against a World Cup winner in this edition, Afghanistan, who had previously defeated reigning champions England and 1992 titlists Pakistan, won the toss as their captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, decided.

The action started with Farooqi dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne, who was ruled lbw after a review, with just 15 runs to his name.

Nissanka, coming off an impressive unbeaten 77 against England, was on the cusp of achieving his fifth half-century in six innings during this World Cup. However, his innings ended at 46 when he was caught behind while attempting a cut against paceman Azmatullah Omarzai. His stay at the crease spanned 60 deliveries and included five fours.

Nissanka’s departure marked the end of a 62-run partnership, and Sri Lanka was at 84-2 by the 19th over.

Mujeeb made an impact by taking wickets in successive overs, leaving the 1996 World Cup champions in a precarious position with four wickets down.

Mendis made an unforced error by sweeping Mujeeb straight into the hands of the deep square leg fielder, having spent 50 balls on his way to 39 runs.

Sri Lanka’s score of 134-3 quickly deteriorated to 139-4 when Mujeeb had Sadeera Samarawickrama dismissed lbw for 36.

In his 100th one-day international, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan displayed his mastery by clean bowling Dhananjaya de Silva with a superb googly that left the batsman thoroughly deceived.

Tailender Maheesh Theekshana contributed with a valuable 29 runs before being expertly yorked by Farooqi, who also dismissed Angelo Mathews. Mathews was caught in the deep by Afghanistan’s veteran Mohammad Nabi after scoring 23 runs.

Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for just 57 runs to be all out for 241 in 49.3 overs.