Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Highlights, World Cup 2023: Omarzai's 73*, Shahidi's 58* key as AFG cruise to 7-wicket victory

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Highlights, Cricket World Cup 2023

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Highlights, Cricket World Cup 2023: Afghanistan cruised to a 7-wicket win against Sri Lanka in ODI 30 of the ongoing 2023 World Cup, at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Chasing 242, Afghanistan cruised to 242/3 in 45.2 overs, courtesy of some fine batting. The Afghans received an early hiccup in their chase, with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz departing for a four-ball duck as he was removed by Dilshan Madushanka. Madushanka struck again in the 17th over to remove Ibrahim Zadran (39). But since then, it was all Afghanistan as they cruised to an easy win.

Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi played a crucial knock, smacking 58* off 74 balls. Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai clattered 73* off 63 as the duo took Afghanistan past the finishing line. Meanwhile, Rahmat Shah also made an impact from no. 3. He clattefed 62 off 74 balls. In the first innings, Sri Lanka were sedate and cautiuous throughout and Afghanistan were the opposite of that and this allowed the latter to get the batting side all out for 241 on a good batting surface. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to bowl first. Dimuth Karunaratne returned to the Sri Lankan lineup as opener in place of Kusal Perera but he didn't last too long, falling to Fazalhaq Farooqi off the second ball of the sixth over. Sri Lanka were then steadied somewhat by Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka before the latter fell four runs short of his half-century. The pair had put up 62 off 77 balls for the second wicket.

Mujeeb ur Rahman came back after the 25th over and went on to take the big wickets of Mendis and the in-form Sadeera Samarawickrama in consecutive overs to leave Sri Lanka rattled. Rashid Khan then dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva, thus bringing in veteran Angelo Mathews. Sri Lanka got a boost in the last 10 overs with Maheesh Theekshana going for a few lusty blows. He eventually fell for a 31-ball 29 while Mathews dismissed for a 26-ball 23.

Here are some higlights from the AFG vs SL match:

- Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bowl first

- Sri Lanka were sluggish throughout the innings and were eventually all out for 241 in 49.3 overs

- Pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi took four wickets while Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman got the two big wickets of Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama in consecutive overs

- Rashid Khan, playing his 100th ODI, took one wicket, as did pacer Azmatullah Omarzai

- Both teams are four points adrift of fourth place

-Dilshan Madushanka strikes twice to remove Afghanistan openers in their 242-run chase

-Rahmat Shah bags half-century

-Hasmatullah Shahidi (58*) and Azmatullah Omarzai (73*) lead Afghanistan to seven-wicket win