Pune (Maharashtra): Feisty fifties by Rahmat Shah, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullh Omarzai helped Afghanistan defeat tentative Sri Lanka by seven wickets in their World Cup match here on Monday.
Afghanistan now have beaten three former World Cup champions so far in this World Cup. They are now currently placed at number five in the points table defeating Sri Lanka - 1996, Pakistan - 1992, and England - 2019 champions. Interestingly, all the teams they have defeated are below them in the chart.
Earlier, Sri Lanka got bundled out for 241 with 3 balls to spare. They were rocked by pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi who grabbed four wickets conceding just 34 runs in his quota of 10 overs Mujeeb Ur Rahman also played his part taking two big wickets in two consecutive overs to put Sri Lanka on the backfoot well-supported by Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi picking a wicket each.
After asking to bat first, Sri Lanka's top six batters got the start but couldn't capitalize on it. Opener Pathum Nissanka was the highest scorer with his 46 off 60 balls innings while Maheesh Theekshana and Angelo Mathews kept fighting and put up a healthy 46 runs partnership for the eight-wicket helping the team to reach the 241 runs mark.
- 9.55 pm
Ashmatullah hit the winning runs as Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka for the time and registered their third win of the tournament. They have beaten three former champions of the tournament Sri Lanka - 1996, Pakistan - 1992 and England - 2019. Azmatullah (13 off 63) played an exceptional knock along with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (58 off 74) ensuring they'll not lose the wicket and take the team over the line. Rahmat Shah also made a half-century well supported by Ibrahim Zadran, who played a crucial knock of 39 and ensured that they'll not lose another wicket after Gurbaz got out on a duck. - 9.20 pm
Sri Lanka are desperately looking for a wicket to get back into the game. Afghanistan need more 45 runs to seal the deal at MCA stadium in Pune. - 9.05 pm
Shahidi-Azmatullah Stitch a fifty partnership between them as they are heading towards the third win of the tournament. - 8.55 pm
Sri Lanka's Rajitha's spirited spell dismissed Rahmat Shah, offering a glimmer of hope, though Afghanistan remains the clear favourite with 7 wickets in hand and 97 runs needed, but cricket's uncertainties keep the game open. - 8.35 pm
Sri Lanka gets another breakthrough in the form of Rahmat Shah who was caught by Karunaratne at mid-on. He made 62 off 74 balls with seven fours. Shahidi survived a close call while attempting an uppercut in the over. - 8.10 pm
These two have amassed 29 runs in the last five overs. Rahmat Shah who looked solid during his whole innings completed his half-century. - 7.56 pm
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, came to bat at number four trying to rebuild the Afghan innings after the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran. They'll have to increase the scoring rate as the required run rate goes above five runs per over. - 7.38 pm
Skipper Kusal Medis brought back Dilshan Madhushanka into the attack and he straightaway provided a breakthrough for Sri Lanka. He removed Ibrahim Zadran who was looking dangerous. Zadran went for an uppercut knowing the player on the third man and ended up giving a simple catch to Karunaratne. He made 39 off 57 balls with four boundaries and a six. - 7.30 pm
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, both the teams were in the same position after 16 overs. Sri Lanka were 71/1 while Afghanistan are at 70/1 after 16 overs. The only benefit for Afghanistan is that they chasing a target hence they can pace their innings accordingly. - 7.15 pm
These two have maintained a good run rate so far but they can't afford to get in a shale. Especially, Ibrahim Zadran has to make up his runs put Sri Lankan bowlers under pressure. While skipper Kusal Mendis expecting a wicket from Maheesh Theekshana. - 7.05 pm
Ibrahim Zadran scored a well-placed boundary with excellent timing, and Rahmat faced a mixture of deliveries including a leg-side flick in the over by Theekshana. These two have put a fifty-partnership after an early wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. - 6.51 pm
Ibrahim Zadran hit a stylish six, and then there were a series of dot balls with good fielding and a wide from Rajitha in the over. Zadran along with Rahmat Shah have put up an unbeaten partnership of 40+ runs. - 6.27 pm
Gurbaz gone! Sri Lanka needed a breakthrough early on and Dilshan Madhushanka provided it in the very over of the innings. He bowled the full-length delivery swinging back in for the right-hander and knocking over Gurbaz stumps. Gurbaz is out for a duck. - 6.25 pm
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran will be opening the innings for Afghanistan. Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madhushanka has a new ball in hand and will open the attack for Sri Lanka. - 5.51 pm
Rahmanullah Gurbaz hits a bulls-eye to run out Kasun Rajitha who ran on a wide ball that went straight into the hands of the wicketkeeper. With this wicket, Afghanistan bundled out Sri Lanka on 241 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the most successful bowler with a four-wicket haul. Mujeeb Ur Rahman also played his part taking two big wickets in two consecutive overs to put Sri Lanka on the backfoot well supported by Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi picking a wicket each. Sri Lanka's top six batters got the start but couldn't capitalize on it. Opener Pathum Nissanka was the highest scorer with his 46 off 60 balls innings while Maheesh Theekshana and Angelo Mathews kept fighting and put up a healthy 46 runs partnership for the eight-wicket helping the team to reach the 241 runs mark. - 5.45 pm
Mohammad Nabi took a brilliant catch on the boundary line to remove Angelo Mathews who played a fine innings of 23 runs off 26 deliveries. Sri Lanka are now nine wickets down. Afghanistan's premium pacer Fazalhaq Farooqui took his fourth wicket of the match. - 5.35 pm
Maheesh Theekshana falls after a dogged inning. Theekshana made a well-fought 29 off 31 balls taking pressure away from his senior mate Angelo Mathews. - 5.25 pm
Mathews and Theekshana together amassed 34 of the last five overs.They have not only scored some quick runs but ensured that Sri Lanka will not lose any wickets here. - 5.15 pm
Sri Lanka's number nine batter, Maheesh Theekshana, who is mainly known for his bowling is hitting boundaries for fun here. He has scored three boundaries so far taking the pressure from his senior partner Angelo Matthews. Matthews has been unable to hit any boundaries as he finds it difficult to middle the ball. - 5.05 pm
A huge mixup in the middle cost Chameera his wicket after a direct throw from Ibrahim Zadran. Sri Lanka have lost three wickets inside 18 runs. Sri Lanka's top six batters got the start but couldn't convert them into big scores which has put them into trouble here. Also, They have only scored four runs from Fazalhaq Farooqui's last three overs. - 4.58 pm
Fazalhaq Farooqui removed Asalanka to get his second wicket. A sloppy shot from Asalanka costs his wicket. Asalanka made 22 off 28 deliveries. Sri Lankais in deep trouble. - 4.40 pm
Rashid Khan picked a wicket in his 100th ODI match. He removed Dhananjaya de Silva with a googly which turned back into the right-hander. Silva made 14 off 26 balls with a four. Sri Lanka will have to score quickly if they want to achieve the 300-run mark. - 4.20 pm
Two new batters on the crease now. Dhananjaya De Silva and Charith Asalanka will have to build a partnership here to strengthen Sri Lanka's innings. - 4.08 pm
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is on fire! Mujeeb sent back Kusal Mendis and then dangerous-looking Sadira Samarwickrama. Mujeeb trapped Samarwickrama in front of the stumps when he missed the off-spin ball from Mujeeb which hit his pads eventually. Samarwickrama made 36 off 40 balls. Sri Lanka batters need to convert their starts into big ones to put up a huge score. - 4.00 pm
Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis returns back soon after completing fifty partnership with Sadira Samarwickrama. Mendis went for a slog sweep on a full-length delivery bowled by Mujeeb but ended up giving a simple catch at deep mid-wicket. He made 39 off 50 balls with three fours. Left-hand batter Charith Asalanka coming into the middle at number five. - 3.45 pm
Sadira Samarwickrama who came to bat number four started off aggressively joined by skipper Kusal Mendis stiched run a ball 34 partnership. Afghan bowlers need to control the flow of runs. - 3.27 pm
Sri Lanka lost their review after Pathum Nissanka clearly edged the ball to give a catch to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.Azmatullah broke the important fifty partnership between Nissanka and skipper Mendis. Nissanka made 46 off 60 with five fours. - 3.20 pm
Nissanka managed to score a single with a punch to long-on, followed by a leg-sidish googly that hit Nissanka's pads, then a clipped shot to the left of short mid-wicket, and finally a full ball driven for two runs, while Kusal Mendis drove the full ball to long-on for a single in the same over. Five runs came from Rashid Khan's first over. - 3.10 pm
Afghanistan's failed LBW appeal against Nissanka, who is playing defensively. There is not much help for bowlers. Rashid Khan comes into the attack in his 100th ODI match. - 3.00 pm
Azmatullah Omarzai makes an economical start, conceding just 2 runs in his first over. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis bring up team's 50. Together they have stitched 36 runs off 46 balls so far. - 2.50 pm
Naveen-ul-Haq has now been introduced into the attack after Farooqi and Mujeeb kept the first 10 overs tight for the Lankans. - 2.40 pm
Slowly but surely Afghanistan are making sure that no teams consider them as minnows. The all-round performance from the Asian team has been a treat to watch. - 2.30 pm
First blow for Sri Lanka. The Afghan bowlers had set the plot for a wicket and here it is. Dimuth Karunaratne goes for 15 runs. - 2.23 pm
The Afghanistan bowlers have kept it tight till now. The Mujeeb-Farooqi duo have kept the net run rate below 4 in the first five overs. - 2.09 pm