Fazalhaq Farooqi‘s brilliant bowling & Afghanistan’s belligerent batting took Afghanistan over the finish line against Sri Lanka. Afghanistan won by 7 wickets with 4.4 overs to spare. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the wrecker-in-chief as the left-arm pacer bowled impeccable lines & lengths.
Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to bowl first and they have put Sri Lanka into bat at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The winner of this enthralling contest will keep their hopes alive for the semi-final spot.
Sri Lanka got to a prudent start as no boundaries hit in the first three overs, in fact there haven’t really been any real attempt at hitting a boundary. Dimuth Karunaratne hit a boundary but gone in the very next ball got trapped leg before as he departs for 15 off 21
Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka steady the Sri Lanka’s innings after a early wicket. An absorbing part of cricket between both this side. The second wicket partnership of 62 runs off 77 balls is broken by Azmatullah Nissanka departs for a well made 46 runs off 60balls with 5 fours as Nissanka takes a waft at a truly wonderful delivery from Azmatullah
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb puts Afghanistan in command
Mendis falls sweeping the pressure of dot balls got to him Mendis slog sweeps it straight into the hands of the deep mid wicket fielder as he departs for 39 off 50 balls. Samarawickrama was the next man to go for Sri Lanka as Mujeeb turned the game on his head with 2 quick wickets. Samarawickrama plumb in front of middle stump. To make things worse, he took a review which went waste, departed for 36 runs off 40 balls.
Dhananjaya has no clue about the delivery from Rashid Khan it’s a Wrong’un, blazes through between Dhananjaya’s bat and body and takes the top of off he departs for 14runs off 26 balls. Asalanka goes for the pull got it off the toe end of the bat and the ball loops nicely to mid-on where Rashid takes an easy catch.
Afghanistan were relentless in the field as Ibrahim Zadran picks the ball up and hits the bull’s-eye to send Chameera back to the dug out.
Mathews tries to go over the bowler’s head but doesn’t quite get all of it. Nabi takes the catch while being just millimetres away from the boundary, balances himself and ensures that he doesn’t touch the pads. Brilliant catch from the veteran to get the veteran departs for 23 of the bowling of Fazalhaq Farooqi
Fazalhaq Farooqi finishes with the best figures of 4 for 34 in his 10 overs with 1 maiden. Mujeeb picked up 2 vital wickets along with Rashid khan as he picked up a wicket finishes with 1 for 50 in his 10 overs to restrict Sri Lanka to 241 in 49.3 overs.
Hashmatullah Shahidi and Omarzai takes Afghanistan home
Gurbaz fells for a duck it’s a peach of the delivery from Madushanka Inswinger that starts at around middle and off, tails in and crashes into middle stump. Madushanka again Strike for Sri Lanka as the partnership of 73 runs ended Zadran departs for 39 off 57 balls one of the slowest innings of the world cup he ramps it straight to the fielder at short third man for an easy catch.
Rahmat Shah scored a fantastic half century before departing for 62 runs off 74 balls it’s an slower ball Rahmat tries to guide it onto the on-side, but gets a front-edge, into the hands of the fielder at mid-on. Shahidi scored a brilliant half century and remains unbeaten on58runs off 74 balls with 2 fours and a six
His partner Omarazai too scored a brilliant half century in fact he is the top scorer for Afghanistan as he also remains unbeaten on 73 runs off 63 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes to guide them to comfortable victory. Madushanka was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with 2 wickets.