World Cup 2023: Afghanistan thrash Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

Afghanistan have achieved the target of 242-run set by Sri Lanka after losing  only three wickets in a ICC World Cup clash played at Pune on Monday, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel. 

 Afghanistan secured the target with the help of fine batting performances of Rehmat Shah (62), Azamtullah Omarzai (73) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (58) in 45.2 overs. Dilshan Mudushanka took two wickets for 48 runs.  

 

 

Fazalhaq Farooqi marked his return to the Afghanistan side with four wickets as Sri Lanka were all dismissed for just 241 in 49.3 overs. 

Left-arm quick Farooqi finished with an impressive 4-34 in 10 overs, having been recalled in place of teenage leg-spinner Noor Ahmad who had taken three wickets in the win against Pakistan last time out. Farooqi took wickets throughout the innings, while off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman kept things tight with 2-38 in 10.

Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka made 46 but no other batsman managed more than skipper Kusal Mendis' (39).

Afghanistan, bidding for a third victory over a World Cup winner at this edition having already defeated holders England and 1992 champions Pakistan, saw captain Hashmatullah Shahidi win the toss.

 

 Earlier, 

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bowl against Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan, bidding for their third win this tournament against a World Cup champion, made one change to the side that thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets last time out, with paceman Fazalhaq Farooqi replacing Noor Ahmad, even though the teenage wrist-spinner took 3-49 on what was his World Cup debut.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup winners, made two changes.

Injury replacement Dushmantha Chameera came straight into the side after fellow paceman Lahiru Kumara was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup by a thigh-muscle injury sustained during training.

Kumara took 3-35 in Sri Lanka's eight-wicket hammering of World Cup holders England -- also beaten by Afghanistan -- in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Dimuth Karunaratne replaced Kusal Perera at the top of the order.

As well as their eight-wicket victories last time, both teams have also won two of their opening five group games and still have a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wkt), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmat Shah, Azmat Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (capt/wkt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL) and Richard Illingworth (ENG)

TV Umpire: Alex Wharf (ENG)

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)