ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rashid Khan, and Mujeeb managed to restrict Sri Lanka in the middle of the innings to score 241 runs in the ICC World Cup contest played at Pune, India on Monday. At one stage, Sri Lanka were 134 for runs; however, three batters’ quick dismissal restricted the side to 185 for 7 in the 40 over. However, the lower order added some crucial runs to guide their side to a fighting total of 241, all out in 49.3 overs.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Afghanistan invited Sri Lanka to bat first. Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne took a cautious start but lost the first wicket on 22 runs in the 6th over when Fazal Haq Farooqi dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne as leg before the wicket. Dimuth was replaced by the skipper Kusal Mendis, who along with Nissanka, pushed the scoreboard ahead. Both contributed 62 runs partnership for the team; however, in the 19th over, Nissanka was removed on 46.
After losing two wickets on 84, Sri Lanka were still in a better position as Nissanka was replaced by the in-form Sadeera Samarawickrama, who along with Kusal Mendis, consolidated the inning further. However, Afghanistan turned the momentum when they broke the 50-run partnership between the two batters and removed the skipper on 39. After Mendis Sadeera also went for 36 in the 30th over when the total score reached 139.
After the dismissal of the two set batters, the Sri Lankan batting line came under pressure and lost further quick wickets due to the splendid spill of Mujeeba and Rashid. They not only grabbed the wicket but also checked Sri Lankan runs flow.
A couple of overs later, Rashid Khan bowled out De Silva on 14. In the 39th over, Asalanka was dismissed on 22. In the next over, when the score reached 185, Dushmantha Chameera got run out on 1 run.
Meanwhile, Angelo Mathews and number nine batter Maheesh Theekshana took time on the crease and added some crucial runs to the scoreboard. They contributed 45 45-run partnership for the team before Theekshana was bowled by Farooqi on 29. At the stage, Sri Lanka were 230 for 9 in 47 overs. In the 49th over, Mathews was dismissed by Farooqi on 23 with a total score of 239. In the last over, Sri Lanka were all out on 241.
From Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi was the most successful bowler, taking 4 wickets. Mujeeb got 2 wickets, while Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Azmatullah Omarzai grabbed one wicket each.
Afghanistan Team
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil †, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazalhaq Farooqi
Sri Lanka Team
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (c)†, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka
