CWC23 Match 30: Afghanistan registered their third win of the World Cup

Afghanistan conquered Sri Lanka as well as they thumped them by seven wickets in the 30th match of ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. 

The match took place at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Monday. Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 241 whereas Afghanistan chased the target inside 46 overs.

Sri Lanka wasn’t off to a good start as Dimuth Karunaratne fell early. But after that, Pathum Nissanka (40:60b, 5x4) and Kusal Mendis (39:50b, 3x4) steadied the innings and added 62 runs for the second wicket.

But they both lost their wickets after a good start and couldn’t capitalise. A similar thing happened with Sadeera Samarawickrama (36:40b, 3x4) and Charith Asalanka (22:28b, 2x4) as they wasted their starts they got. Afghanistan bowlers kept picking wickets at regular intervals and applied pressure on the opposition. A vital knock from Angelo Mathews (23:26b, 1x4, 1x6) and Maheesh Theekshana (29:31b, 3x4, 1x6) powered Sri Lanka to 241. For Afghanistan, Fazal Haq Farooqi was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged a four-wicket haul.

Match Summary

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, ICC Cricket World Cup

Afghanistan 242/3 (45.2 ov)

Sri Lanka 241/10 (49.3 ov)

Afghanistan elected to bowl

SCORECARD

Chasing the target, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck. But after that, Ibrahim Zadran (39:57b, 4x4, 1x6) and Rahmat Shah (62:74b, 7x4) added 73 runs for the second wicket. Hashmatullah Shahid (58 not out:74b, 2x4, 1x6) and Azmatullah Omarzai (73 not out: 63b, 6x4, 3x6) added an unbeaten 111 runs for the third wicket and took their team home with seven wickets in hand.

Match Stats

Sri Lanka Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Dimuth Karunaratne - 5.2 ov), 2-84 (Pathum Nissanka - 18.1 ov), 3-134 (Kusal Mendis - 27.4 ov), 4-139 (Sadeera Samarawickrama - 29.1 ov), 5-167 (Dhananjaya de Silva - 35.6 ov), 6-180 (Charith Asalanka - 38.5 ov), 7-185 (Dushmantha Chameera - 39.6 ov), 8-230 (Maheesh Theekshana - 46.6 ov), 9-239 (Angelo Mathews - 48.3 ov), 10-241 (Kasun Rajitha - 49.4 ov)

Afghanistan Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz - 0.4 ov), 2-73 (Ibrahim Zadran - 16.5 ov), 3-131 (Rahmat Shah - 27.6 ov)

Playing XI

AFGHANISTAN - Rahmanullah Gurbaz(WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi(C), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

SRI LANKA - Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(WK/C), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Match Details

Date - 2023-10-30 08:30:00

Venue - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Toss - Afghanistan elected to bowl

Umpires - Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Richard Illingworth (England), Alex Wharf (England TV)

Match Referee - Javagal Srinath (India)

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