In the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup in India, Afghanistan’s cricket team is making waves with their incredible performance. They recently secured their third win, proving their mettle on the international cricket stage. After their sensational victory over Pakistan in Chennai, the Afghan Atalans continued to shine by defeating Sri Lanka in a thrilling contest at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
The victory over Pakistan was a chasing masterclass, and they followed it up with yet another clinical performance, this time while batting second against Sri Lanka in Pune. The standout performer with the ball in this match was Fazalhaq Farooqi, who played a crucial role in restricting Sri Lanka to a below-par total of 241 on a decent Pune pitch.
During their chase, Afghanistan did face an early setback with the loss of the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the powerplay. However, opener Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah ensured that the team reached the 10-over mark without further damage. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai later contributed with half-centuries, guiding Afghanistan to a comfortable victory.
While Sri Lanka’s bowlers displayed moments of brilliance in the first twenty overs, the 241-run target proved insufficient on this pitch. This victory marked Afghanistan’s first back-to-back wins in their World Cup history. With three wins out of six matches, Shahidi and his team have kept their hopes alive in the race for the semi-finals.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka, who entered this match on the heels of a significant win against defending champions England, struggled to maintain their momentum. Their hopes of qualifying for the knockouts have taken a hit.
Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis acknowledged their batting shortcomings in the post-match presentation, stating, “We didn’t do enough with the bat. 300 or even 280 runs would have been sufficient, but it wasn’t meant to be. Our bowlers performed well in the first 10 overs, but dew later made it challenging to bowl spinners. The second innings saw the ball coming onto the bat nicely.”
Despite several challenges in the tournament, Sri Lanka found a silver lining in the form of left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka. Captain Mendis praised the 23-year-old, saying, “He (Madhushanka) has done really well. He was good for us in the first couple of games as well and is bowling nicely. I’m really happy for him.”
In the current points table, Sri Lanka is positioned in sixth place with two wins out of six games. They have three more matches to play, with their upcoming clash against table-toppers India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, November 3rd.
Afghanistan’s journey in this World Cup has been nothing short of remarkable, and their recent victories are a testament to their growing presence in international cricket. As the tournament progresses, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more thrilling matches and stunning performances from these rising stars.
Watch live Streaming at Sportechhub
