Ibrahim Zadran was solid in making 39 off 57

Rahmat Shah's Heroics and a Spectacular Finish

Rahmat Shah, on his way to another half-century, momentarily stumbled, offering Sri Lanka an opening. Sri Lanka, unfortunately, couldn't capitalize on this opportunity. 

Azmatullah Omarzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi formed a formidable partnership, pushing Afghanistan closer to the target. They picked singles, and Azmatullah's striking ramp shot and subsequent six over deep midwicket provided the momentum Afghanistan needed. 

By the 40-over mark, Afghanistan had already secured 201 runs, and sensing a significant victory, Shahidi and Azmatullah switched gears. 

They embarked on a boundary-hitting spree, both reaching their respective half-centuries and guiding Afghanistan to a comfortable victory with 28 balls to spare.

Hashmatullah Shahidi scored his 18th half-century, Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, World Cup, Pune, October 30, 2023

Sri Lanka's Struggles in Batting

On the other hand, Sri Lanka couldn't make the most of a batting-friendly surface. They lost control of their innings as they ended up with only 241. The decision to bring back Dimuth Karunaratne didn't pay off as Fazalhaq Farooqi, making a comeback, removed him early. 

Although Pathum Nissanka's aggression provided some momentum, the run rate dropped. Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama steadied the innings, but Afghanistan's spin duo, Mujeeb and Rashid Khan, changed the course of the contest by claiming the crucial wickets.

Veteran Angelo Matthews tried to salvage the innings, but wickets kept falling at the other end. Maheesh Theekshana took charge of scoring as Matthews contributed crucial runs towards the end. 

However, Farooqi returned to add two more wickets, finishing with a four-fer. Sri Lanka's total fell below par as Afghanistan outplayed them with conviction.

Afghanistan's remarkable journey in the World Cup continues, leaving fans and critics alike in awe of their remarkable performance. With each victory, they inch closer to securing a spot in the semi-finals, solidifying their status as a team to watch in international cricket.

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