AFG vs SL: Miraculous performance of Afghanistan in World Cup, defeated Sri Lanka by 7 wickets
In the 30th match of ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Afghanistan cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 7 wickets. With this victory of Afghanistan, the race for the semi-finals has now become exciting. In the match, after winning the toss, Afghanistan invited Sri Lanka to bat first. The Sri Lankan team was limited to a score of only 241 runs against the Afghan bowlers. In response, Afghanistan achieved the target in just 45.2 overs.
The beginning was not very special for Afghanistan who set out to chase the target. The team’s first wicket had fallen without any runs on the scoreboard. However, the subsequent batsmen played cautiously and made important partnerships, gradually taking the team towards victory.
Rahmat Shah showed a strong performance in this victory of Afghanistan. Rahmat Shah played a strong inning of 62 runs in 74 balls. Apart from this, captain Hashmatullah sealed the victory by playing an unbeaten inning of 58 runs and Azmatullal played an unbeaten inning of 73 runs in 63 balls. This is the third win of Afghanistan cricket team in 6 matches.
Sri Lanka’s batting remained weak
Sri Lanka’s batting looked very weak in this match against Afghanistan. Under the leadership of fast bowler Fazal Haq Farooqui, Afghanistan bundled out Sri Lanka for 241 runs. Left arm fast bowler Farooqui took three wickets for 34 runs. Spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2 wickets for 38 runs) also took two wickets due to which Sri Lanka’s team was limited to 49.3 overs.
For Sri Lanka, opener batsman Pathum Nissanka scored the highest 46 runs. Captain Kusal Mendis scored 39 runs while Sadira Samaravikram scored 36 runs. In the lower order, Mahish Teekshana scored 29 runs while experienced Angelo Mathews played an important role in taking the team to a respectable score by playing an inning of 23 runs. Nissanka looked in good form for Sri Lanka after losing the toss and coming to bat.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who replaced Kusal Perera in the eleven, however, had to struggle against the precise bowling of Afghanistan’s bowlers. Farooqui finally gave Afghanistan its first success by LBWing Karunaratne in the sixth over. The on-field umpire had given him not out but after taking DRS the umpire had to change his decision. Karunaratne scored 15 runs.
Nissanka and Mendis decorated the innings by making a partnership of 62 runs for the second wicket. Nissanka hit a brilliant four on fast bowler Naveen Ul Haq in the 13th over. However, when Nissanka was close to his fifth half-century, he was caught by wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz off the ball of fast bowler Azmat Omarzai. He faced 60 balls and hit five fours.
