AFG vs SL, World Cup 2023: Afghanistan spark semi-final hopes after 7-wicket win, up to 5th spot in points table

Afghanistan showed the world that they are serious contenders for a spot.

In the World Cup 2023 semi-final after they outclassed former champions Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in their league game in Pune on Monday, October 30. Afghanistan jumped to the 5th spot in the 10-team points table with 6 points from as many matches in the tournament.

Afghanistan are 2 points behind 4th-placed Australia as they leapfrogged both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the points table. Afghanistan, who had entered the World Cup with only 1 win in the premier tournament in the past, will face Netherlands, Australia and South Africa in their remaining games on November 3, 7 and 10, respectively.

Afghanistan made it back-to-back wins for the frist time in their World Cup history as they had hammered Pakistan by 8 wickets in Chennai on October 23.

Far from pre-tournament favourites, Afghanistan has stunned 3 former World Cup champions – England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in a span of 2 weeks at the World Cup in India.

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had said before the start of the tournament that their batters need to step up and offer support to their world-class spin-bowling attack. And with former England batter Jonathan Trott at the helm as head coach, Afghanistan have just done that with composed batting performances under pressure, chasing down 283 against Pakistan and 242 against Sri Lanka after defending 284 by 69 runs against England, who are rooted to the bottom of the points table.

It was Hashmatullah Shahidi who remained unbeaten in both their successful chases in World Cup 2023 so far as the captain played another responsible knock, hitting an unbeaten 58 against Sri Lanka, a week after his unbeaten 48 against Pakistan. Azmatullah Shahidi top scored with 73 not out while senior batter Rahmat Shah hit 62.

Afghanistan got off the worst possible start to their chase on a sluggish pitch at the MCA Stadium in Pune as they lost their power-hitter and Kolkata Knight Riders star Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 0

However, fellow opener Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah added 73 runs for the 2nd wicket while not taking unwanted risks in a steady partnership. Zadran fell to Dilshan Madhushanka, but Rahmat continued and got his 25th ODI half-century.

Just when it looked like Rahmat would switch gears, he fell to Kasun Rajitha who was charged up in his seond spell in the 28th over.

Afghanistan went past the finish line without any further hiccups as captain Hashmatullah and Azmatullah Omarzai stitched a 150-plus partnership.

Sri Lanka failed to put any pressure on the two Afghanistan batters after the 30th over as they were allowed to rotate the strike freely. Azmatullah swung the momentum in favour of Afghanistan, going after the Sri Lankan bowlers in his knock of 73 not out which included 6 boundaries and 3 sixes.

Afghanistan completed the chase in just 45.2 overs as they took care of their Net Run Rate as well.

FAROOQI SHINES
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka batters struggled for momentum throughout their innings after Pathum Nissanka got going with 46.

Several of Sri Lanka’s batters got starts, including Kusam Mendis (39) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (36) but they were not able to kick on and get a big one.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was brought back for the contest in Pune in place of Noor Ahmed, responded with 4 wickets while Mujeeb UR Rahman picked up 2 wickets.

Rashid Khan, playing in his 100th ODI, made it memorable got the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva in a collective bowling show from the Afghans.