Afghanistan continue to polish their reputation at the biggest stage of ODI cricket as they took down another giant for their third win of the ICC World Cup 2023.
Former champions Sri Lanka became the latest team after England and Pakistan to have lost to Afghanistan in the ODI showpiece as the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side stormed to their second win in a row to move within touching distance of a top-four spot on the points table.
After an impressive performance from the bowlers, led by left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/34) didn’t allow Sri Lanka batters to construct a big innings, it was the turn of Afghan batters to put up a clinic as they sauntered to the target of 242 in 45.2 overs to seal a seven-wicket win.
After losing in-form opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the first over, Afghanistan made a steady recovery with as many as three batters hitting half-centuries compared to none from Sri Lanka to set up the comfortable win.
Azmatullah Omarzai top-scored for Afghanistan with an unbeaten 73 and together with his captain Hashmatullah who made an 58*, guided Afghanistan home.
After opting to bowl first at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune, Afghanistan bowled out Sri Lanka for 241 in 49.3 overs.
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Farooqi picked the first of his four victims in the sixth over when he trapped opener Dimuth Karunaratne LBW on 15.
Sri Lanka though recovered from the early jolt through a solid partnership between Pathum Nissanka (46) and Kusal Mendis (39) with the pair adding 62 runs for the second wicket.
It was Azmatullah who broke the partnership but it gave away to another solid stand of 50 runs involving Kusal and Sadeera Samarawickrama.
However, when Mujeeb Ur Rahman had Kusal stumped in the 28th over, Sri Lanka innings went off track with Farooqi running through their lower order.
Thanks to Maheesh Theekshana’s 29, Sri Lanka were able to post a respectable total.
Afghanistan, despite an early setback, remained calm in the chase and stitched together big partnership.
Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah added 73 runs before Dilshan Madhushanka broke the stand in the 17th over.
Sri Lanka needed quick wickets but Afghanistan were quite composed as they steadily kept moving closer to the target.
Rahmat brought up his 25th ODI half-century before falling on 62.
Omarzai alongside Hashmatullah then added 111 runs for the fourth wicket to take Afghanistan to the fifth spot in the points table.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 242/3 in 45.2 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 73*, Rahmat Shah 62, Hashmatullah Shahidi 58*; Dilshan Madhushanka 2/48) beat Sri Lanka 241-all out in 49.3 overs (Pathum Nissanka 46, Kusal Mendis 39; Fazalhaq Farooqi 4/34, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/38)
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