CWC 2023, Match 30, Afghanistan VS Sri Lanka, Played at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India on 30 October 2023
Sri Lanka 241 All Out in 49.3 Overs (Pithun Nishanka 46, Kushal Mendis 39, Sadeera Samarawickrama 36, Maheesh Theeksana 29, Angelo Mathews 23, Charith Asalanka 22, Fazal Huq Farooqi 4/34, Mujeeb ur Rahman 2/38, Azmatullah Omarzai 1/37)
Afghanistan 242/3 in 45.2 Overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 73*, Rahmat Shah 62, Hasmatullah Shahidi 58*, Ibrahim Zadran 39, Dilshan Madushanka 2/48)
Afghanistan won by 7 wickets.
Player of the Match: Fazal Huq Farooqi (4/34)
Afghanistan achieved their third win against major opposition yesterday at Pune against Asia Cup runners up Sri Lanka. Winning the toss and opting to bowl Afghans bowling with passion kept the Sri Lankan innings restricted to 241 all out in 49.3 Overs. Afghans cake walked over and across the target scoring 242/3. They won huge and handsome by 7 wickets with 28 balls to spare. With 6 points in 6 matches Afghanistan now ranks 5th in the points table.
Late surge of brave Afghanistan has put them into contention. Three wins against three world champions of the past England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka has brightened their possibility for last minute gate crash into the top four. If they win two more remaining games against Netherlands and Australia, they have more than even chance of playing the semifinal. The way Afghans game has turned around Afghan cricket admirers all over the world can hope against the hope. Afghanistan is growing from strength to strength. They could not gather all their strength in their first match against underperforming Bangladesh in their first match. Otherwise, they could be much better position now.
The wicket at Pune had some assistance for the pacers. Afghan team management read it well resting rookie left arm unorthodox spinner Noor Ahmed bringing back ace pacer Fazal Haq Farooqi. That proved a master stroke. Farooqi bowling on the right channel kept free scoring Lankans at bay. His spinning partners Mujeeb, Rashid and Nabi also bowled tight. Several Lankans got start but none could convert their innings into substantially big contributions. Afghan captain Hasmatullah Shahidi used his resources very smartly. Pithun Nishanka (46), Kushal Mendis (39), Sadeera Samarawickrama (36), Maheesh Theeksana (29), Angelo Mathews (23), Charith Asalanka (22) all had start. If one or two could bat deep Lankans could post 300 plus score. But Afghans bowled and fielded so smartly that whenever any batsman tried to cut loose Afghans sent him back to the pavilion snapping his wicket. Fazal Haq Farooqi taking 4/34 was the main destroyer. Mujeeb ur Rahman taking 2/38 gave a great hand. Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan all bowled tight offering no free bees. Lankan score of 241 appeared too less to challenge Afghans.
In response, Afghans lost their flamboyant opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for nought. But Ibrahim Zadran (39) and Rahmat Shah (62) set a solid foundation adding 73 for the 2nd wicket partnership. Then emerging all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai (73*) who cricket admirers are already admiring as Afghan version of Hardik Pandya pairing with captain Hasmatullah Shahidi (58*) with unbroken 111 runs 4th wicket partnership cruised across the target scoring 242/3 in 45.2 overs.
Afghanistan winning by 7 wickets elevated its position to 5th in the points table just below the top four. There is a realistic possibility of Afghanistan getting into the top four. Their next two opponents are the Netherlands and Australia. The way Afghans are playing now one cannot write them off. Their spinners are world class, the pacers have started bowling well and their batting is showing depth and diversity. My heart pumps as I know how brave and great people Afghans are. They deserve greater glory for their commitments and endeavours.
BDST: 0136 HRS, OCT 31, 2023
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