SL vs AFG, 1st ODI: AFG wins by 60 runs!

SL vs AFG, 1st ODI: Before the bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai, and Gulbadin Naib ripped through Sri Lanka’s batting order, sharing nine wickets between them, Ibrahim Zadran struck 106, setting Afghanistan up for a commanding 294 for 8. Pathum Nissanka, who kept the score moving in the first overs while wickets fell around him, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who was in brilliant batting form even as he ran out of partners, provided some resistance for Sri Lanka. But the seamen from Afghanistan had caused too much damage. Sri Lanka had been thoroughly outplayed at home, so the victory was only 60 runs. They never seemed to be able to handle this huge chase. With only five games remaining in the Super League, Sri Lanka’s loss makes it even less likely that they will automatically qualify for the ODI World Cup next year. 

They currently sit 10th in the standings, with only the top eight qualifying. With 110 points (they are currently seventh) and a large number of games remaining, Afghanistan, on the other hand, make significant progress toward securing a spot in the World Cup.

Afghanistan had established a formidable foundation prior to the quicks’ destruction of Sri Lanka’s top leadership. 

Afghanistan were rarely troubled by Sri Lanka’s seamers on a Pallekele surface with decent pace and carry but little turn, at least in the first 40 overs. Afghanistan had half-century players like Gurbaz, who hit 53 off 55, and Rahmat, who hit 52 off 64, in addition to Ibrahim’s century. From 88 balls, the opening partnership was worth 84;118 out of 141 is the second-wicket stand. They were 202 for 8 at the end of 38 overs.Even though Najibullah Zadran’s 25-ball 42 with a six and five fours sent them flying into the final overs, they weren’t quite able to win. However, 295 was always going to be difficult to hit. Ibrahim’s innings was chanceless, whereas Gurbaz had a little luck, being caught at slip in the fifth over by Dhananjaya de Silva off Kasun Rajitha’s bowling. In the seventh over, he really got into it against Rajitha, crashing him square through the legside off successive deliveries. His first boundary was a sweetly struck drive that went wide of mid-off. 

Gurbaz was more forceful through the powerplay, yet Ibrahim was maybe better through the center overs, finding without risk singles generally around the wicket as he worked his direction scrupulously to a 62-ball fifty. The 24th over marked that milestone; Since the ninth, he had not added to his total of boundaries. Lahiru Kumara had one edge that flew past the goalkeeper when he was on 55, but the rest of the progression to triple digits was pretty smooth as well. He reached the milestone with a swivel-pulled four off Kumara on the 116th delivery he faced shortly after Rahmat, who had also accumulated well through the middle overs, left. In the 42nd over, he holed out against Maheesh Theekshana’s bowling. In the final five overs, Sri Lanka only gave up 31 runs and took five wickets, but they did manage to pull back a little. 

Rajitha was largely responsible for this, as his final three overs only cost 12 runs.However, in the first 45 minutes, Afghanistan had gained too much ground. From the very first over, the response was anxious. In the third over, Nissanka was given lbw but saved by a review. Kusal Mendis attempted to review Ahmadzai’s lbw decision against him in the following over but was unsuccessful. Farooqi bowled Dinesh Chandimal after he hit some nice boundaries in the seventh over. 

Fazalhaq, Naib, Yamin & Rashid bagged 4️⃣,3️⃣, 2️⃣ and 1️⃣ wickets respectively In #Afghanistan’s 60 runs victory over the hosts @OfficialSLC
🔝 stuff @fazalfarooqi10 @GbNaib @rashidkhan_19 and Yamin 🙌🏼#AFGvsSL #ACA #Afghanistan #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/JBOqlnSbJp

— Afghan Cricket Association – ACA (@ACAUK1) November 25, 2022

In the eleventh, De Silva was bowled by Gulbadin off the inside edge after hitting even better boundaries. Sri Lanka’s score of 75 for 3 was significantly higher than the required rate. When Gulbadin saw Asalanka slipping, the score was 90 for 4. Dasun Shanaka holed out to deep midwicket off the same bowler, making the score 137 for 5. Despite the fact that their required rate never reached unmanageable levels, they just kept losing wickets. Farooqi was bowled out for 85 off 83 balls by Nissanka, who edged him back to his stumps. A Farooqi yorker bowled Dhananjaya Lakshan shortly thereafter. It was a shame because Hasaranga was already going crazy. 

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Hasaranga scored 22 runs in the 31st over, bowled by Mohammad Nabi. He hit a six over long off the first ball, faced a dot, and then hit four consecutive fours through the offside. Afghanistan kept getting wickets, but he kept finding the boundary. By the end, Hasaranga was turning down singles to keep the strike, but the tailenders didn’t do very well with the little balls they had to deal with. At the end of the 38th over, Hasaranga was bowled for 66 off 46, putting an end to Sri Lanka’s innings. Afghanistan had only lost one wicket by that point.