Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by 60 runs
Player of the match
Ibrahim Zadran - AFG
All
Wickets
4s
6s
AFG
SL
That is it then from this game and it is the visitors who have the early lead in the three-match series. The next game becomes all the more crucial for both sides as it might prove to be a series-deciding one. The second ODI is on Sunday, 27th November at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT). Do join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghan skipper, says that he is feeling good and praises his boys. Adds that they started well with the bat and admits that they could have closed the innings better. Further says that in the last 7 overs or so they couldn't get the big hits and were 30 runs short. Shares that the plan was to bowl wicket-to-wicket and create pressure by bowling dot balls.
Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka, says that it's disappointing and feels that they could have bowled well on this pitch. Tells that toss is crucial but it was a good wicket and they didn't get enough partnerships. Adds that in the middle phase, they didn't control the innings but at the death, they bowled well, especially Kasun Rajitha. Mentions that the difference between the two sides is the partnership that Afghanistan got. States that they are looking forward to winning the remaining games and addressing their position on the ICC ODI Super League 2023 table.
Ibrahim Zadran is the Player of the Match for his sublime century! The Afghan opener says that he is very happy with his knock and thanks the Almighty. Tells that they wanted to bat first and the pitch was very good for batting. Shares that he took his time and that's why he played well. Feels that the pitch didn't change much, even in the second innings, and mentions that he passed on the message to his team that they should target 320. Praises his bowlers for a fantastic performance.
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Earlier in the day, Afghanistan batted with a lot of control. They adopted the old-school style to build their innings with the aim to go big in the last 10 overs. The Afghans did score 81 runs but also lost 6 wickets in the process, which hampered their charge and stopped them from crossing the psychological 300-run mark. In the end, whatever runs they put on the board turned out to be enough.
As mentioned, Afghanistan bowled superbly in every phase of the chase. By picking regular wickets, they kept a strong hand on the game and despite runs coming thick and fast for Sri Lanka, the tourists always were ahead. Gulbadin Naib picked up three crucial middle-order wickets and that dented Sri Lanka's hopes of staging a comeback. Fazalhaq Farooqi was once again brilliant and went through the defenses of four batters.
Chasing a target of 295 was not too tough on this batting-friendly surface but by losing wickets at regular intervals, Sri Lanka shot themselves on the foot. Pathum Nissanka was the only top-order batter to fight with some fluency and then Wanindu Hasaranga displayed his skills with the bat to scare the Afghans. He eventually ran out of partners, and was the final batter to get dismissed.
A convincing win for Afghanistan to take a lead in the series but more importantly, the Afghans gain 10 crucial points for ICC ODI Super League 2023. It was a neat and tidy effort from their bowlers right from the start and not for a moment, they allowed the intensity to go down in the field.
234/10 (38.0)
Over 38
W
4
0
0
0
0
Wanindu Hasaranga*
66 (46)
Lahiru Kumara
0 (1)
Fazalhaq Farooqi
4/49 (9)
SL
234/10
W
37.6
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wanindu Hasaranga ,OUT! PLAYED ON! Fazalhaq Farooqi finishes things up in style as he gets his fourth wicket of the game. This ball is angled in on a length and from around the off pole. Wanindu Hasaranga shuffles past the leg stump as he looks to go through the off side. The ball takes the inside edge and crashes onto the stumps, knocking the bails over. Farooqi is elated and Afghanistan win the series opener by 60 runs.
4
37.5
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wanindu Hasaranga ,FOUR! Oh, wow! Fazalhaq Farooqi goes searching for the blockhole but it ends up being a low full toss. Wanindu Hasaranga backs away and creams it past extra cover for a boundary.
0
37.4
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Pitched up around off, Hasaranga plays it square of the wicket to deep cover and doesn't pick up a single with a couple of deliveries still remaining in the over.
0
37.3
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Good deception from the bowler. Farooqi steams in and serves a slower one, this is on a length and close to the off pole. Hasaranga shuffles past the leg stump and looks to cut but is beaten all ends up.
0
37.2
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wanindu Hasaranga ,No way through! Full and around off, Hasaranga with another nicely struck drive but can't get it past the man at extra cover.
0
37.1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Farooqi comes from over the wicket and delivers a very full delivery on middle. Wanindu Hasaranga backs away and drills it straight to mid off.
Over 37
0
W
1
0
4
0
Lahiru Kumara*
0 (1)
Wanindu Hasaranga
62 (40)
Rashid Khan
1/40 (8)
SL
230/9
0
36.6
Rashid Khan to Lahiru Kumara ,On a nagging length and around middle and leg. Lahiru Kumara plays it towards mid-wicket.
Lahiru Kumara is the last man in for Sri Lanka.
W
36.5
Rashid Khan to Kasun Rajitha ,OUT! LBW! Kasun Rajitha looks like a dead duck but still goes for the review. A well-cooked googly is served to Sri Lanka's number 10. It lands on a fuller length around middle, Kasun Rajitha tries to defend but the ball spins in to beat the bat. He is rapped on the pads, they appeal and the umpire raises his finger after thinking for a while. UltraEdge finds nothing and Ball Tracking shows that it's clipping the leg stump. Once again it's the umpire's call and Sri Lanka have lost their ninth wicket.
1
36.4
Rashid Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga ,A googly again, on the shorter side around middle, Wanindu Hasaranga moves back and punches it to deep cover for a single. Two balls to survive for Kasun.
0
36.3
Rashid Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Googly around middle, Wanindu steps back and then blocks at the last moment.
4
36.2
Rashid Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga ,FOUR! Extraordinary shot! Too full and around leg, Wanindu Hasaranga clears his front foot and hammers it over the bowler's head for a boundary.
0
36.1
Rashid Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Quicker one, following the batter down the leg side, Hasaranga blocks it at the last moment.
Over 36
0
4
4
wd
0
W
1
Kasun Rajitha*
8 (4)
Wanindu Hasaranga
57 (36)
Yamin Ahmadzai
2/46 (6)
SL
225/8
0
35.6
Yamin Ahmadzai to Kasun Rajitha ,Fuller and on middle, defended towards mid on. The crowd rejoice. Wanindu Hasaranga will be on strike now and perhaps he will try to farm strike from here on. 70 needed off 84 balls.
4
35.5
Yamin Ahmadzai to Kasun Rajitha ,FOUR! Even better! Kasun Rajitha shows that he is no mug with the bat. Too full in length, around middle, Rajitha shows the full face of the bat and executes an on drive for a boundary. The required rate is below 5 but the hosts have only two wickets left.
4
35.4
Yamin Ahmadzai to Kasun Rajitha ,FOUR! What a shot from Sri Lanka's number 10! Fuller in length and outside off, Rajitha strokes it from the middle of the bat and threads the gap between extra cover and mid off.
wd
35.4
Yamin Ahmadzai to Kasun Rajitha ,Wide! Slips a full ball down the leg side, Rajitha tries to flick but misses. Rahmanullah Gurbaz collects and appeals but the umpire stretches his arms to signal a wide.
0
35.3
Yamin Ahmadzai to Kasun Rajitha ,Yorker to greet the new batter, around off and Kasun Rajitha digs it out back to the bowler.
Kasun Rajitha is in next.
W
35.2
Yamin Ahmadzai to Maheesh Theekshana ,OUT! Given lbw! Maheesh Theekshana takes the review and gestures that he got some bat on it. Coming to the delivery, it's on a length around middle and angling down, Maheesh Theekshana shuffles a bit and tries to flick but misses. He is rapped on the pads, they appeal and the finger goes up. DRS time! Nothing on the UltraEdge and the Ball Tracking shows that it's clipping the leg stump. Umpire's call and Sri Lanka have now only two wickets left.
1
35.1
Yamin Ahmadzai to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Short and outside off, cut through point for a single.
Over 35
1
1
0
0
0
1
Wanindu Hasaranga*
56 (35)
Maheesh Theekshana
3 (11)
Rashid Khan
0/35 (7)
SL
215/7
1
34.6
Rashid Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Tossed up, on middle, Wanindu Hasaranga thinks about the slog but then bails out. He just taps it down in front of point and keeps strike with a single. 80 needed off 90 balls.
1
34.5
Rashid Khan to Maheesh Theekshana ,Slower through the air, full and spinning away, Maheesh Theekshana slices his drive to short third man and they cross for a brisk run.
0
34.4
Rashid Khan to Maheesh Theekshana ,Quicker googly on off, turning in, Theekshana pushes it back to the bowler.
0
34.3
Rashid Khan to Maheesh Theekshana ,Floated delivery, full and on off, Maheesh drives but straight to covers.
0
34.2
Rashid Khan to Maheesh Theekshana ,The batter has just watchfully blocked this out.
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