In a thrilling encounter at the ICC Men’s World Cup, Afghanistan showcased their prowess by chasing down a target of 242 runs set by Sri Lanka, securing a convincing seven-wicket victory. The match held in Pune on October 30, 2023, will undoubtedly be etched in the memory of cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Chasing the target, Afghanistan faced an early blow as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the very first over. However, this setback didn’t deter the Afghan side, as Rahmat Shah (62), skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (58*), and Azmatullah Omarzai (73*) played exceptionally well, guiding their team to an impressive win. Their partnership was instrumental in keeping Sri Lanka at bay, with Afghanistan winning the match with 28 balls to spare.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s tweet
Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Afghanistan for their outstanding victory. He tweeted that how much ever you praise, it is less. The remarkable story of Afghanistan keeps growing as a cricket pundit like Manjrekar praised the team to such an extent.
The Afghan victory was a testament to their batting depth and composure under pressure. Despite losing Ibrahim Zadran for a well-fought 39, the middle-order batsmen ensured that Afghanistan’s run chase remained firmly on track.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, faced early success when opener Pathum Nissanka, who had been in spectacular form with consecutive fifties in previous matches, was dismissed for 46 runs. The Afghan paceman Azmatullah Omarzai was responsible for ending Nissanka’s impressive run, catching him behind the stumps. The early wicket triggered a domino effect for the Sri Lankan innings.
Fazalhaq Farooqi was the standout performer for Afghanistan with the ball, claiming four crucial wickets, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/38), Azmatullah Omarzai (1/37), and Rashid Khan (1/50) also made significant contributions, effectively dismantling the Sri Lankan batting lineup. The late resistance from Maheesh Theekshana (29) and Angelo Mathews (23), who added a vital 45 runs for the eighth wicket, briefly revived Sri Lanka’s hopes but proved insufficient to alter the outcome.
The result lifts Afghanistan’s standing in the World Cup rankings, while Sri Lanka finds themselves facing an uphill battle to secure a spot in the tournament’s knockout stages.
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