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The Afghanistan National Cricket Team and the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team have developed an exciting rivalry over the past decade. While Sri Lanka bring a rich cricketing tradition and experience at the highest level, Afghanistan have quickly established themselves as one of the strongest emerging teams in world cricket. Their encounters in ICC tournaments, the Asia Cup, and bilateral series have often produced thrilling finishes and outstanding individual performances. One of the most memorable matches between the two sides came during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where Afghanistan registered a historic victory over Sri Lanka. This article provides the complete Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, along with batting and bowling figures, key moments, match highlights, records, and analysis.
Match Summary
| Match | Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 |
| Venue | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune |
| Date | October 30, 2023 |
| Toss | Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field |
| Result | Afghanistan won by 7 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Fazalhaq Farooqi |
Match Scorecard
First Innings Scorecard – Sri Lanka
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 46 | 60 | 5 | 0 |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | 15 | 21 | 1 | 0 |
| Kusal Mendis (c) | 39 | 50 | 3 | 0 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | 36 | 40 | 3 | 0 |
| Charith Asalanka | 22 | 28 | 2 | 0 |
| Angelo Mathews | 23 | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 29* | 31 | 3 | 1 |
| Extras | 30 | — | — | — |
| Total | 241 | 49.3 Overs |
Sri Lanka made a steady start but failed to capitalize on it. Regular wickets prevented them from building a match-winning total, and despite several useful contributions, they were bowled out for 241.
Bowling Figures – Afghanistan
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 10 | 34 | 4 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 10 | 38 | 2 |
| Rashid Khan | 10 | 50 | 1 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 8.3 | 37 | 1 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 8 | 44 | 2 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3 | 23 | 0 |
Fazalhaq Farooqi led Afghanistan’s bowling attack brilliantly with four wickets, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq provided excellent support.
Second Innings Scorecard – Afghanistan
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 39 | 57 | 4 | 1 |
| Rahmat Shah | 62* | 74 | 7 | 0 |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) | 58* | 74 | 2 | 1 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 73 | 63 | 6 | 3 |
| Extras | 10 | — | — | — |
| Total | 242/3 | 45.2 Overs |
Afghanistan recovered quickly after losing an early wicket. Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi built the foundation before Azmatullah Omarzai’s aggressive innings ensured a comfortable chase.
Fall of Wickets
| Team | Fall of Wickets |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 22, 84, 134, 185, 188, 227, 234, 241 |
| Afghanistan | 0, 73, 131 |
Afghanistan’s partnerships in the middle overs proved decisive as they comfortably chased the target with nearly five overs remaining.
Match Result
Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by 7 wickets.
The victory strengthened Afghanistan’s campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and marked another memorable success over a former world champion.
Player of the Match
Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan)
Fazalhaq Farooqi produced a superb spell with the new ball and at the death.
His match-winning performance included:
- 4 wickets for 34 runs.
- Early breakthroughs that disrupted Sri Lanka’s batting.
- Excellent control and swing bowling.
- A key role in restricting Sri Lanka to 241.
Key Moments
Farooqi’s Early Breakthroughs
The left-arm pacer dismissed Sri Lanka’s top-order batters and prevented a big opening partnership.
Middle-Order Resistance
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama rebuilt the innings, but Afghanistan continued taking wickets at regular intervals.
Rahmat Shah’s Calm Innings
Rahmat Shah anchored the chase with an unbeaten half-century, ensuring Afghanistan never lost control.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s Aggression
Omarzai’s attacking 73 shifted the momentum completely and took the game away from Sri Lanka.
Match Highlights
- Sri Lanka were bowled out for 241.
- Pathum Nissanka scored 46.
- Kusal Mendis contributed 39.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed 4 wickets.
- Rahmat Shah remained unbeaten on 62.
- Azmatullah Omarzai scored 73.
- Afghanistan won by 7 wickets.
Records Broken During the Match
Historic World Cup Victory
Afghanistan recorded another famous victory during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, continuing their impressive run in the tournament.
Farooqi’s Best World Cup Spell
His figures of 4/34 ranked among Afghanistan’s best bowling performances in ODI World Cup history.
Successful Chase
Afghanistan comfortably chased a target above 240, highlighting the team’s growing maturity in ODI cricket.
Head-to-Head Record
Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have met regularly in ICC tournaments and bilateral series.
| Format | Overall Trend |
|---|---|
| Test Cricket | Sri Lanka lead |
| ODI Cricket | Sri Lanka lead overall, but Afghanistan have won several recent meetings |
| T20 International | Closely contested |
Afghanistan have significantly narrowed the gap in recent years with consistent performances across formats.
Recent Meetings
Recent matches between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka include:
- ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
- Afghanistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2024.
- Asia Cup 2023.
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixtures.
The rivalry has become increasingly competitive as Afghanistan continue to develop into a top international side.
Major Records
Team Records
- Afghanistan successfully chased 242 with seven wickets in hand.
- Sri Lanka were restricted to 241 despite several useful partnerships.
- Afghanistan registered another memorable World Cup victory.
Individual Records
- Fazalhaq Farooqi finished with 4 wickets.
- Azmatullah Omarzai scored 73.
- Rahmat Shah remained unbeaten on 62.
- Pathum Nissanka top-scored for Sri Lanka with 46.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka match in the 2023 Cricket World Cup?
Afghanistan won the match by 7 wickets.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Fazalhaq Farooqi received the Player of the Match award for his outstanding bowling figures of 4/34.
What score did Sri Lanka make?
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 241 in 49.3 overs.
Who was Afghanistan’s highest scorer?
Azmatullah Omarzai scored 73, while Rahmat Shah remained unbeaten on 62 to guide Afghanistan to victory.
What was the turning point of the match?
Fazalhaq Farooqi’s four-wicket spell restricted Sri Lanka to a manageable total, and Afghanistan’s strong middle-order partnerships ensured a comfortable chase.
Conclusion
The Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 highlights one of Afghanistan’s finest ODI performances. A disciplined bowling effort led by Fazalhaq Farooqi was followed by a composed batting display from Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Their seven-wicket victory demonstrated Afghanistan’s rapid growth in international cricket and reinforced their ability to compete with established cricketing nations on the biggest stage.
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