#CWC23 : Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi Leads From The Front As Afghanistan Continue Fairytale Run ; Beat Sri Lanka Emphatically By 7 Wickets

Picture : ICC / X

Afghanistan continue to impress in the CWC23 as they beat 1996 winners Sri Lanka emphatically by 7 wickets at a encounter in Pune to record their third win .

Afghanistan had won the toss and decided to bowl first . And Afghan bowlers did well to restrict Sri Lankan batsmen and did not allow them them to free their arms . Pathum Nissanka ( 46), Dimuth Karunaratne ( 15), Skipper Kusal Mendis ( 39), Sadeera Samarawickrama ( 36) , Charith Asalanka ( 22), Dhananjaya de Silva ( 14), Angelo Mathews ( 23) , Maheesh Theekshana ( 29). Bottomline all got starts but the big innings never came . Sri Lanka could score 241 in 49. 3 overs

Afghan bowlers came to the party in style backed by good fielding . Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/ 38 ( 10 overs), Fazalhaq Farooqi was brilliant with 4/ 34 ( 10 overs), Naveen-ul-Haq 0/ 47 ( 6.3 overs), Azmatullah Omarzai 1/ 37 ( 7 overs), Rashid Khan playing his 100th match took 1/ 50 ( 10 overs), Mohammad Nabi 0/ 33 ( 6 overs)

In reply Afghanistan were in total control . They lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz early though for 0 . Ibrahim Zadran 39 ( 57 balls, 4 fours , 1 six) put team on track . Later on Rahmat Shah gave the innings the momentum with fine 62 ( 74 balls, 7 fours) . Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi led form the front and batted beautifully to remain not out on 58 ( 74 balls , 2 fours, 1 six) and he was well supported by Azmatullah Omarzai not out a superb 73 ( 63 balls, 6 fours 3 sixes) the duo guided Afghanistan home by thumping 7 wickets . Afghjanistan reaching 242/ 3 in 45. 2 overs

Sri Lankan bowling figures read : Dilshan Madushanka 2/ 48 ( 9 overs), Kasun Rajitha 1/ 48 ( 10 overs), Angelo Mathews0/ 18 ( 3 overs), Dushmantha Chameera 0/ 51 ( 9.2 overs), Maheesh Theekshana, the prime spinner was expensive 0/ 55 ( 10 overs), Dhananjaya de Silva 0/ 21 ( 4 overs)

Match: World Cup 2023, 30th Match
Venue: Pune | Date: October 30, 2023