On Monday, October 30, Afghanistan continued their dream run, beating former champions Sri Lanka. It was the third win in the tournament, affirming Afganistan's status as contenders.
Afghanistan had made waves by defeating England and delivering a historic win over Pakistan. Their victory against Sri Lanka means they are now not just a force to be reckoned with but also in contention for a coveted spot in the semi-finals.
Chasing a target of 242, Afghanistan's journey to victory came with challenges. The early loss of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka, provided Sri Lanka with hope. Yet, Afghanistan remained steadfast in their pursuit, undeterred by the setback.
Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran built a solid partnership. They punctuated their innings with crucial boundaries. Zadran's six off Kasun Rajitha underscored their intent. Angelo Matthews, who had shone with the ball for Sri Lanka, conceded two boundaries in his opening over. It allowed Afghanistan to amass 50 runs during the powerplay.
But Sri Lanka wasn't willing to concede. Madushanka returned to the attack, disrupting the burgeoning partnership. This slowed Afghanistan's scoring rate. Yet, they stayed calm, confident that the required run rate remained within reach.
Rahmat Shah, on the cusp of another half-century, faltered, offering a chance to Sadeera Samarawickrama. However, Sri Lanka couldn't capitalize on this opportunity. Azmatullah Omarzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi then took center stage.
The duo accumulated singles, drawing closer to the target. Omarzai unleashed a six over deep midwicket off Theekshana. It provided Afghanistan's needed momentum. He followed it with another six, showcasing his prowess with the ramp shot. Afghanistan reached 201 by the 40th over, paving the way for a comprehensive win.
Both Shahidi and Azmatullah continued their assault, sending boundaries in all directions. They reached their respective fifties and steered Afghanistan to a commanding win with 28 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka struggled to capitalize on a batting-friendly pitch, concluding their innings with 241. The return of Dimuth Karunaratne to the side didn't yield the desired results, as Fazalhaq Farooqi promptly removed him. Then, Pathum Nissanka took charge. He delivered boundaries off four consecutive overs to give Sri Lanka momentum. Kusal Mendis soon joined the party after a sluggish start.
Sri Lanka's run rate remained high, even after Nissanka departed for 46. Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama stabilized the innings, steering Sri Lanka to a strong position. The turning point arrived when Mujeeb Zadran dismissed both set batsmen in consecutive overs. This shifted the momentum in Afghanistan's favour. Dhananjaya de Silva's struggles continued, and he fell victim to Rashid Khan's googly.
The responsibility now rested on Angelo Matthews to salvage the innings. Yet, wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Theekshana took charge of the scoring, while Matthews contributed crucial runs towards the end. Farooqi returned to claim two more wickets, finishing with a four-fer and keeping Sri Lanka's total below par.
Afghanistan's victory over Sri Lanka is a testament to their form and resilience. Sri Lanka finds itself in a challenging position, with work to do to revive their World Cup campaign. Cricket fans can now expect more thrilling clashes and unexpected twists.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 241 in 49.3 overs (Pathum Nissanka 46; Fazalhaq Farooqi 4/34, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/38) lost to Afghanistan 242/3 in 45.2 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 73*, Rahmat Shah 62; Dilshan Madushanka 2/48) by seven wickets.