- Afghan team can reach the semi-finals
Pune. After the brilliance of the bowlers led by fast bowler Fazalhaq Faruqui, Afghanistan on Monday revived its hopes of making it to the semi-finals by defeating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the ICC Cricket World Cup, while the opposition team's chances of entering the knockouts were dashed. Gave a shock. Chasing Sri Lanka's target of 242 runs, Afghanistan scored an unbeaten 73 runs off 63 balls by Azmatullah Omarzai with six fours and three sixes, along with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (58 not out off 74 balls, two fours, one six). With the unbroken partnership of 111 runs for the fourth wicket, India won by scoring 242 runs for three wickets in 45.2 overs. Earlier, Hashmatullah also added 58 runs with Rahmat Shah (62) for the third wicket. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka took two wickets for 48 runs.
With this victory, Afghanistan team has reached fifth position with six points from three wins in six matches. Sri Lankan team is in sixth place with four points from two wins in as many matches. Earlier, the Sri Lankan team was all out for 241 runs in 49.3 overs in front of the sharp bowling of left-arm fast bowler Farooqui (four wickets for 34 runs) and spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (two wickets for 38 runs). For Sri Lanka, opener Pathum Nissanka scored the highest 46 runs. Captain Kusal Mendis scored 39 runs while Sadira Samaravikram scored 36 runs. In the lower order, Mahish Teekshana scored 29 runs while experienced Angelo Mathews played an inning of 23 runs to take the team to a respectable score.
Chasing the target, Afghanistan lost the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over itself while the team's account of runs was not even opened. He was bowled by Madushanka. Openers Ibrahim Zadran (39) and Rahmat then decorated the innings with a partnership of 73 runs. Jadran hit the first four of the innings off Madushanka while Rahmat sent Kasun Rajita's ball to the boundary. Zadran also delivered Rajita's ball to the audience. Afghanistan's half-century of runs was completed in 10 overs. Zadran and Rahmat preferred to rotate the strike and maintain the run pace.
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