Afghanistan is constantly growing in stature in this world cup by registering another clinical chase over Sri Lanka by seven wickets with 28 balls to spare. Knocking down three previous world champions in such a professional way calls for applause for Hashmat and his boys.
Brave decision to bring Farooqi in and bowl first
There were a couple of brave decisions that were made by the think tank before the game. Fazalhaq Farooqi was brought back by benching Noor Ahmad who scalped a 3-fer against Pakistan. Also after winning the toss, they chose to bowl first on a fairly good wicket. Sri Lanka started the proceedings on a cautious note. Farooqi got the better of Karunaratne when the appeal was challenged through DRS. But Mendis and Nissanka slowly went on to build a good partnership. Just when it was looking that both the batters could unleash attack, Omarzai came into the party. A feathered touch to Gurbaz sent him back to the pavilion. Although Lankans did not seem to be in any sort of hurry, Sadeera’s arrival surely got the run rate going at a better rate.
Mujeeb brought the downfall of Mendis and Sadeera
Mujeeb was brought back into his second spell to break the flourishing association of Mendis and Sadeera. While Mendis swatted one straight into the hands of Najeeb positioned at the cow corner fence, Sadeera was caught plumb in front when he went back to punch Mujeeb off his back foot. Dhananjaya didn’t last long either. Rashid got the better of him with his trademark googly to castle the stumps. With set batters already sent back to the dugout, Asalanka and Angelo tried to rebuild the innings. By then Farooqi was also brought back after a fairly economic first spell. He wasted no time in dismissing Asalanka with a short pitched ball that never arrived when the latter tried to time the swing of the pull.
Theekshana’s resilience took Sri Lanka to 241
To add to the Lankan wounds, Ibrahim ran Chameera out with a direct throw to leave Sri Lanka rattling at 185/7 in 40 overs. Afghanistan had their nose tightened on the game. When it seemed that the Lankans would find it difficult to even reach to 230, Theekshana to everyone’s surprise displayed his batting resilience. With some calculated boundaries, he piled up a 45 run stand with Angelo in the next seven overs. When it looked like they would cross 250, Farooqi dismissed Theekshana with a perfect yorker followed by Angelo through a disguised slower delivery in successive overs. Gurbaz ran Rajitha out through a direct hit in the last over and wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings.
Gurbaz went for a duck
With 242 to chase on a seemingly tricky pitch, Gurbaz lost his stumps in the first over when he tried to flick Madhushanka towards square leg. Unperturbed by this dismissal, Ibrahim and Rahmat piled up a cautious 73 run partnership by knocking some crisp boundaries as and when the bowlers faltered with their lengths and lines. Ibrahim fell into the hands of the third man when he failed to place the upper cut of an angling bouncer. Before departing, he had amassed 39 runs with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Rahmat Shah was class personified
Hashmat and Rahmat continued the good work without much of a fuss. The calmness shown by the two in the middle was exemplary. Rahmat completed his 25th ODI fifty in 62 deliveries and looked set for a bigger score. However against the run of play, Rahmat got out to Rajitha when he tried to flick him towards mid wicket only to lend a leading edge to the fielder at mid-on. The pressure was back on to Hashmat and Azmat at the crease. By then the dew was already starting to take effect. They collected singles and doubles at ease with Omarzai occasionally hitting those pressure releasing boundaries and sixes. With 200 on board within 40 overs, the victory seemed not too far provided they kept their nerves cool. Meanwhile both of them got to their second half centuries of the world cup.
Unbeaten 111-run partnership between Hashmat and Azmat seals victory
After reaching the individual milestone, Azmat increased the tempo and attacked the Sri Lankan pacers. Without any further hiccup, Afghanistan crossed the victory line with seven wickets to spare in 45.2 overs. Sri Lanka thereby became the third world champion after England and Pakistan to be knocked down comprehensively by Afghanistan in a professional and clinical way. Just at the brink of triumph Hashmat crossed the milestone of 2000 ODI runs and remained unbeaten on 58. Azmat also remained not out on 73 from 63 balls loaded with six fours and three sixes.
Netherlands next in Lucknow
Farooqi got the player of the match due to his career best figures of 4/34. It’s a good sign that the top and middle order is starting to take responsibility till the end, which was a concern at the beginning of this World Cup. With Netherlands to play next in Lucknow, Afghans must focus hard to clinch another victory under their belt before they can go all out in their last two matches against the cricketing heavyweights Australia and South Africa.