ICC World Cup 2019. Match 8

Sri Lanka Vs Afghanistan Played at Cardiff ,Waleson 4 June ,2019

Brief Score Card 

Sri Lanka 201( MDKJ Perera 78, FDM Karunaratne 38,HDRL Thirmanne 28 , Mohammad Nabi 4/30 ,Rashid Khan 2/17 , Dawlat Zadran2/34) beat Afghanistan 152 All Out in 32.5 Overs  ( Nazibullah Zadran 43 , Hazratullah Zazai 30, Gulbadin Naib 23, Nuwan Pradeep 4/31 , Malinga3/39) by 34 Runs.

Player of The Match: Nuwan Pradeep

Slinger Lasith Malinga had his trademark yorkersgoing and Pradeep bowled his hearts out as Sri Lanka successfully defended a modest target in the rain curtailed match at Cardiff Wales yesterday. Afghans were set for scoring 187 in 41 overs by D/L method after brilliant bowling of Afghan bowlers restricted Lankans to 201. The best of Afghan efforts could make them score 152 .Afghans lost a great opportunity for recording their first ever win in ICC World Cup.  But Sri Lankan pace attack spearheaded by slinger Malinga and Nuwan Pradeep pairing excellently well in swing favoring condition and green top wicket crushed Afghans to 152 all out. Lankans had a very important win by 36 runs. It was clash of two weaker cousins of ICC world cup 2019. We are not sure how many matches more they can win or whether any at all. But in this low scoring match Sri Lankan showed some character while bowling and fielding. But their middle order batted poorly appearing clueless against quality Afghan spin attack. Nabi and Rashid tormented them after the top order made savaged Afghan new ball attack. Afghans has to learn more practical lessons before getting competitive in World events.

Sky of Cardiff was cloudy and the forecast was for rain. On the green top wickets Afghans were expected to appear with at least three pacers including Aftab Alam . But they stuck to the team playing the first match against Australia . Afghans rightly decided to field after winning the toss . Sri Lanka in changed strategy promoted Pereraopening the batting along with captain Karunaratne. That strategy worked as the two savagely attacked Hamid Hasan the fastest of the Afghan bowlers . They raced to 92 in the opening stand in 13.2 overs bringing back the memories of Jayasuriya and Kaluvitarna days . Afghan captain had to switch back to spinning option a bit too early . Unfortunately Mujib looked innocuous but experienced Nabi sensing not much turn bowled straight and a bit faster . Karunaratne was consumed by Nabi . Thirmanne joining Perera kept the momentum going. Nabi was bowling exceeding well on a tight length and line. In the 22nd over Nabi removed Thirmanne ,Mendis and Mathews breaking the backbone of Lankan batting. With  Hamid Hasan and Rashid Khan removing De Silva and Perera quickly suddenly Sri Lanka looked struggling from 1/144 to 6/159. With two more wickets disappearing Lankans were looking down the barrel at 8/189 when sky opened up threatening abandonment of the match. But play resumed the overs were curtained to 41 maximum. Sri Lanka got all out scoring 201 . Perera top scored with 78, Karunaratne and Thirmanne contributed 30 and 25 respectively.Even Lankan great Kumara Sangrakara in the commentary box appeared embarrassed the way Lankans struggled against Nabi and Rashid Khan on a wicket not giving them any assistance .

Afghans required scoring only 187 runs in 41 overs meaning cake walk in modern days cricket. 

Unfortunately Afghanistan batted very poorly loosing wickets at regular interval. Only innings of any substance in their efforts came from NazibullahZadran 43 and Hazratullah Zazai 30 . Pradeepbowled fast and moved a bit . Malinga pitched his deadly Yorkers accurately . Afghans were all out 151 loosing perhaps the best opportunity in this world cup for winning a match. Sri Lanka won by 36 runs in Duckworth Lewis method. Pradeep took 4/31 and Malinga 3/39 including 2 with his trademark in swinging Yorkers .

BDST: 0635 HRS, JUNE 05, 2019
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