Pune, India – In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Afghanistan’s cricket team, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over 1996 World Cup champions Sri Lanka. This win not only solidified Afghanistan’s exceptional run in the 50-overs World Cup but also bolstered their prospects of reaching the semi-finals.
Afghanistan’s bowlers, spearheaded by the resurgent left-arm fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi (4-34), orchestrated a remarkable performance, dismissing Sri Lanka for a modest 241 runs in 49.3 overs.
Their top-order batsmen, including Hashmatullah Shahidi, displayed remarkable prowess, with three of the top five achieving half-centuries during a composed chase that took 45.2 overs to complete. Afghanistan moved up to fifth place in the points table.
Azmatullah Omarzai (73) fittingly secured the winning run with Shahidi (58) as his partner, both contributing to an unbroken partnership of 111 runs.
With six points, Afghanistan now stands a genuine chance of securing a spot in the World Cup semi-finals, just two points behind New Zealand and Australia, with the top four teams guaranteed a place in the semis.
This victory underlines Afghanistan’s growing prowess in international cricket, having previously defeated world champions England and, most recently, Pakistan. It also marks the first instance of Afghanistan securing back-to-back victories in World Cup history.
“I’m quite happy and proud of the team. I thought we performed well in all three departments,” said Hashmatullah Shahidi, reflecting on the team’s achievements. “The Pakistan game gave us a lot of confidence that we can chase down any kind of target. The chase was very professional, and I am very happy about it.”
This remarkable success is attributed to the efforts of Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, and stands as a testament to their growing stature in international cricket. Sri Lanka, coached by former England international Chris Silverwood, felt the full force of Afghanistan’s talent and determination.
Farooqi’s inclusion, replacing Noor Ahmad, was justified as he showcased remarkable skills on a less spin-friendly pitch. Shahidi’s decision to field first, owing to concerns about dew later in the game, also proved wise.
Farooqi’s superb performance yielded wickets throughout the innings, with off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman also playing a pivotal role by maintaining a stranglehold on the opposition, taking 2-38 in his 10 overs.
Pathum Nissanka, the Sri Lankan opening batsman, was the top scorer for his side with 46 runs, but none of the other Sri Lankan batsmen managed to surpass Kusal Mendis’ 39.
Afghanistan’s disciplined approach bore fruit, with key moments including the dismissal of Pathum Nissanka, who was on the verge of scoring his fifth fifty in six innings of this World Cup.
Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan reached his milestone 100th One-day International by dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva with a masterful googly that completely baffled the batsman. Following this, Mujeeb struck twice in successive balls, removing the well-set Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama.
Although Angelo Mathews and Maheesh Theekshana provided a late surge with a 45-run partnership for the eighth wicket, Sri Lanka’s total fell short of 250 runs.
Farooqi’s brilliant yorker accounted for tailender Theekshana, and a cleverly disguised slower ball by Farooqi led to Mathews’ dismissal, caught in the deep.
Despite losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the very first over, Afghanistan managed to rebuild their innings with a composed partnership between Rahmat Shah (62) and Ibrahim Zadran (39). Their performance eased nerves and took Afghanistan closer to their target.
Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai contributed to an unbroken partnership of over 100 runs, blending prudence with occasional aggression. Victory was within sight when both players decided to go for their shots. Azmatullah attempted a six to seal the victory but was dropped at deep midwicket.
Sri Lanka’s captain, Kusal Mendis, acknowledged his team’s falling short of the desired total: “I think we were a little bit short of runs. 240 was not enough on this pitch. We needed 280 or 300 on this pitch. I think the bowlers did well in the first 10 overs, but it was tough after that.”
Afghanistan’s impressive performance continues to make waves in the cricketing world, underlining their growing stature as a competitive team on the global stage.
