Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, World Cup 2019, Match 7: Sri Lanka fightback to beat Afghanistan by 34 runs
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, 2019 World Cup Match 7: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of match 7 of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 from Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib won the toss and opted to field first. He said that he would like to bowl first due to the suitable conditions. Reckoned it is a good toss to win. On their first game, Gulbadin said that they learnt a lot from that match against Australia. On Sri Lanka today, Naib says that he does not want to look into the past and reckons that the Lankans are a champion side and the Afghans would have to be at their best and informed that he is playing the same XI from the Australia match. Sri Lankan captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, said that in the last match also they batted first, so they know how the conditions will be. He added that it is not a 300-wicket but he wants his batsmen to asses the wicket well. On captaincy issues, Karunaratne said that it is not easy but credited the former players for giving him advice. Informs that Nuwan Pradeep comes in place for Jeevan Mendis. (Scorecard | When and where to watch)
Highlights, Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 34 runs (DLS Method)
23.40 IST: Lasith Malinga to Hamid Hassan, OUT! Perfect yorker and SRI LANKA WIN BY 34 RUNS (DLS METHOD)!
23.39 IST: Lasith Malinga to Hamid Hassan, SIX!
* Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the last man in.
23.35 IST: Isuru Udana to Najibullah Zadran, OUT run out (Dimuth Karunaratne). Afghanistan have lost their ninth wicket.
23.31 IST: Isuru Udana to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Up and over! Short and outside off, Najibullah backs away and slaps it over cover. Nearly goes all the way!
23.27 IST: Lasith Malinga to Dawlat Zadran, OUT! BOWLED! A Malinga special. Yorker, you miss, he hits. AFG 136/8 in 30.1 overs
23.15 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Najibullah Zadran, BEATEN! Good shape on this one. Good length delivery outside off, Najibullah looks to poke at this one but misses it due to the away movement on this one.
* Another delay. Dawlat Zadran is not happy with his back and is down again. The physio is back on.
23.07 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Dawlat Zadran, MISFIELD, FOUR! Fielding in shambles. You stop, I stop, ahhh... the ball goes through. Full and around off, Dawlat drives this down the ground. First, Pradeep tries to stop it by getting down to his right. Misses. Second, Lasith Malinga gets across from mid on and slides but misses. Angelo Mathews then gets across from mid off and cannot stop it either! He gets up, runs after the ball, gets to it but takes it along with him into the ropes! AFG 128/7 in 27.3 overs
23.05 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Dawlat Zadran, Huge LBW shout! NOT OUT! Full and fast but going down the leg side, Dawlat just tries to keep it out but misses and is hit on the back pad.
* Dawlat Zadran comes in at number 9. All he needs to do is hang in there with Najibullah.
23.00 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Rashid Khan, OUT! BOWLED! Is that the second-last nail in the coffin? Pradeep has turned it around for the Lankans. This is pure fast bowling. On a length, around off, Rashid looks to defend but the ball jags back in, takes the front pad and then hits the stumps! 64 more needed from 89 balls.
* Rashid Khan walks in next. Can he hang around with Najib?
22.56 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Gulbadin Naib, OUT! LBW! Massive moment in the game and the well-strung partnership has been cut short. On a length outside off, Naib stays back to defend but the ball pitches and then shoots through.
* Naib has been adjudged LBW! He has taken the review though. Is this missing leg? No inside edge. And... it is CLIPPING LEG STUMP! Naib has to go!
22.50 IST: Dhananjaya de Silva to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Oh ho ho! Full and around leg, Zadran gets down and reverse sweeps it through point for a boundary! AFG 116/5 in 24 overs
* First sign of spin. Dhananjaya de Silva introduced.
22.45 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Najibullah Zadran, WIDE! A short ball, around middle and leg, going down with the angle, Zadran ducks and it is wided.
* Change of ends for Nuwan Pradeep. 5-1-14-2 so far.
* It is ironic but the floodlights are being switched on when the ground is bathed in sunshine.
22.40 IST: Isuru Udana to Gulbadin Naib, Oohh... Outside off, on a length, Naib looks to punch it through the off side but the ball comes in, takes the inside edge and goes past the stumps towards long leg. A couple of runs taken.
* Isuru Udana is back on. 4-0-13-1 so far.
22.38 IST: Suranga Lakmal to Gulbadin Naib, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total.
* Suranga Lakmal returns. 2-0-18-0 so far.
22.30 IST: Thisara Perera to Gulbadin Naib, Landed outside off, another dab to third man for one more.
22.23 IST: Lasith Malinga to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! Outside off, pulled through mid-wicket! Back to Back boundaries from Afghan skipper
22.22 IST: Lasith Malinga to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! Full and around middle, driven down the ground!
22.19 IST: Thisara Perera to Najibullah Zadran, Full and outside off, Najibullah looks to drive but the ball moves away and almost takes the outside edge. Kusal Perera fumbles and parries it towards third man. A bye taken.
22.11 IST: Thisara Perera to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Classic cover drive! Through for a boundary! Second time in the over Zadran has found the fence. Perera bowls one outside off, Najibullah leans on and drives this through covers for a boundary. Beautiful to watch it from the left hander.
22.09 IST: Thisara Perera to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Outside off, pushed through the covers. In the air... but safe!
22.07 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR! Nice shot! Driven through the covers.
* Najibullah Zadran comes out to bat at number 7, replacing Nabi.
22.04 IST: Thisara Perera to Mohammad Nabi, OUT! BOWLED! Thisara, you beauty! What a ball. On a length, outside off, Nabi looks to defend but the ball hits a patch of grass and seams back in. Nabi is beaten all ends up as the ball goes through the gate between bat and pad, or well, almost. Clips the pad and then hits the stumps. Thisara initially appeals for LBW before joyfully reacting to the sound of timber. Half the side gone. Are Afghanistan gone too?
* Skipper Gulbadin Naib walks out at number 6, replacing Shahidi.
21.59 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Hashmatullah Shahidi, OUT c Kusal Perera b Nuwan Pradeep. Afghanistan have lost their fourth wicket.
21.55 IST: Isuru Udana to Mohammad Nabi, SAFE. There was not a direct hit at all. In fact, Udana had disturbed the bails with his hand.
* Direct hit! Is that a wicket? No one is celebrating. In fact, the Lankans are more concerned with Suranga Lakmal going down in pain.
21.49 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR! Up and over mid on! Good shot. Full on middle, Nabi lofts it over mid on for a boundary.
21.44 IST: Isuru Udana to Hashmatullah Shahidi, That is a jaffa! Outside off, on a length, Shahidi looks to defend but the ball kicks off a length and beats the outside edge!
21.40 IST: Nuwan Pradeep to Hazrat Zazai, OUT! The short-pitched stuff works! Directed at the body, Zazai pulls it away but straight to deep fine leg where Thisara Perera runs to his left and takes it nicely.
* Hashmatullah Shahidi walks in at number 4, replacing Rahmat.
21.32 IST: Isuru Udana to Hazrat Zazai, Udana bowls a yorker on middle, Zazai does well to dig it out. It goes towards Isuru who tries to stop it but it goes past him towards mid on for a single.
21.23 IST: Isuru Udana to Rahmat Shah, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
* First bowling change. Isuru Udana into the attack with his left-arm indippers.
* Rahmat Shah comes in at number 3, replacing Shahzad.
21.18 IST: Lasith Malinga to Mohammad Shahzad, OUT! Caught this time! The bowler is the same but the fielder is different. Malinga gets the first scalp. Not a great delivery, not a great shot. A half volley, on middle and leg, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.
21.15 IST: Lasith Malinga to Hazrat Zazai, FOUR! 'TOCK!' That sound. Just tells you that you need not look where the ball has gone. Pulled over mid-wicket.
21.10 IST: Suranga Lakmal to Hazrat Zazai, FOUR! Whacked wide of mid on for a boundary!
21.08 IST: Lasith Malinga to Hazrat Zazai, FOUR! Hammered through the covers!
21.02 IST: Suranga Lakmal to Mohammad Shahzad, FOUR! Forced off the back foot through the covers!
20.59 IST: Suranga Lakmal to Hazrat Zazai, SIX! FETCH THAT! That is one way of dealing with good bowling. Survive the decent balls and punish the rubbish ones. This short ball is pulled over mid-wicket.
* Suranga Lakmal to bowl from other end
20.56 IST: Lasith Malinga to Mohammad Shahzad, EDGED, DOES NOT CARRY! Tell you what, we have a run chase on our hands. Malinga lands this on a length again, outside off and gets the ball to swing. Shahzad looks to defend but the ball moves away and takes the outside edge. Luckily for him, because he went with soft hands, the ball does not carry to a diving second slip, who half stops it. A single taken.
20.54 IST: Lasith Malinga to Mohammad Shahzad, Swing to start. Plenty of it. Full and around off, watchfully pushed back to the bowler.
* Afghanistan openers are back for the chase Shahzad to face veteran Lasith Malinga
* Full marks to Afghanistan for their comeback with the ball. They were poor initially but then that 22nd over sparked a revival. It almost changed their entire attitude and picked up 8/57 in 94 balls. Mohammad Nabi was the star of the show, taking a 4-fer, of which 3 came in one over and here he is, talking to Simon Doull.
* Rain then came around, in the 33rd over. After a lengthy 3-hour delay, play resumed and the Lankans managed to cross the 200-run mark. Nothing much to write about their batting, with 6 single figures.
* Mohammad Nabi bowled a stunning 22nd over to get rid of Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews. After that, the Lankans could not muster even a fight. Their middle order was not upto scratch and just gave in to the continuous pressure. Kusal Perera tried to wage a lone battle but eventually, got dismissed for 78.
* An innings split into two halves. The first belonged to Sri Lanka, till the 22nd over, where they were butchering the Afghans. The bowling was not that great, with too many extras being conceded. The top order had begun well and had put on 144/1 in just 21.1 overs when the magician started to weave his magic.
* THE REVISED TARGET FOR AFGHANISTAN IS 187 IN 41 OVERS. Gettable? You bet. Not many would have thought that would be possible, with the Lankans roaring at 144/1. But a tremendous 22nd over by Mohammad Nabi just broke their backbone and the Islanders could never recover.
20.43 IST: Rashid Khan to Nuwan Pradeep, OUT! BOWLED! Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 201. The slider, pitched outside off, going on with the arm, Pradeep looks to defend but misses. The ball hits his pads and hits the off stump.
20.41 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Lasith Malinga, OUT! Perfect yorker which goes under! Afghanistan gets the first wicket just after the rain
20.39 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Suranga Lakmal, FOUR! Baseball shot once more, giving himself room and pulling this over mid on!
20.37 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Suranga Lakmal, FOUR! Short and pulled away over mid-wicket!
20.35 IST: Rashid Khan to Lasith Malinga, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
* Rashid to bowl from another end
20.31 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Lasith Malinga, FOUR! Up and over mid off! Bam! Malinga takes the charge and smashed it hard for the boundary.
20.30 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Suranga Lakmal, Outside off, punched through cover for a single.
20.28 IST: The players are slowly making their way out to the middle. Good news is, it has got brighter and the floodlights HAVE NOT been switched on. Wait. IT HAS STARTED TO DRIZZLE AGAIN. But the game continues. Dawlat Zadran to bowl to Suranga Lakmal.
20.10 IST: UPDATE - Great news, folks! The covers are off and we are all set for the game to begin! The match has been reduced to 41-overs-per-side and we shall let you know the details soon. Hold onto your seats! The restart is scheduled at 4 PM LOCAL (1500 GMT).
* 3.15 PM LOCAL (1415 GMT) UPDATE - We should have had an update by now but sadly, there is nothing new to report. The inspection has been pushed to 3.45 pm local. The conditions have grown a bit overcast as well.
* We now though, have started losing overs. Hopefully, we get some news soon.
* 2 PM LOCAL (1300 GMT) UPDATE - Nothing much to report from Cardiff. It is still pelting down and the forecast says for more of the same for at least an hour. No overs have been lost as of now but one does not expect the Lankans to resume their innings again. Fingers crossed.
* Oh dear. The heavens have opened up! It was drizzling for quite a while and eventually, the umpires have decided to call for the covers. The rain is falling pretty heavily and steadily. No wind around to move the clouds away. Sri Lanka may not mind this.
17.35 IST: Rashid Khan to Lasith Malinga, The batsman fails to get bat on that one and is hit on the pad. They manage to come back for the second. Leg byes signalled by the umpire.
* Lasith Malinga walks in at number 10, replacing Kusal Perera.
17.31 IST: Rashid Khan to Kusal Perera, OUT! Caught behind off the reverse sweep! More problems for Sri Lanka as Rashid strikes now. Kusal looking to play the reverse sweep, has been caught behind by Mohammad Shahzad.
* The physio has come out to the middle. It is Lakmal's right thumb, of the arm with which he bowls. Not good for Sri Lanka.
17.27 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Suranga Lakmal, The ball takes the outside edge goes towards the slip region. A committed effort by the fielder to save runs for his team.
* Suranga Lakmal is the new man in.
* DRINKS BREAK. What a turnaround. Who would have thought at 144/1 that Sri Lanka would be in tatters? But that is why this game is so lovely. Because it is unpredictable.
17.24 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Isuru Udana, OUT! BOWLED! The stumps are knocked over. But the shot has to be questioned here. Afghanistan 178/7 (31.3 overs)
* The umbrellas are up in the stands. The rain drops are falling. The forecast was for a start-stop game. Right now, the game is continuing...
17.21 IST: Rashid Khan to Isuru Udana, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. Maiden over from Mr. Khan
17.16 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Isuru Udana, Full and around off, pushed through mid on for a run. Only two runs from the over.
17.15 IST: Rashid Khan to Isuru Udana, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
17.12 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Isuru Udana, SIX! Powerful shot! Tossed up on off, Dhananjaya lofts it with ease over long off for a maximum.
17.07 IST: Hamid Hassan to Isuru Udana, FIVE WIDES! Another bonus for Sri Lanka. A bouncer, well above everyone and down to the fence behind.
* Isuru Udana comes to bat replacing Thisara
16.59 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Thisara Perera, OUT! Thisara is indeed short and has to go! 6th wicket down for Sri Lanka.
* IS THAT A RUN OUT? There was a miscommunication and Thisara Perera had to go back. The throw came in and Shahzad took the bails off but did he do so in time? Certainly looks so from the replays!
16.57 IST: Hamid Hassan to Thisara Perera, MIX-UP, BUT SAFE! On a length outside off, Thisara punches it towards point. He takes a couple of steps but then stops.
16.53 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Kusal Perera, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. The fielder goes for a direct hit but misses the stumps. The batsmen have run through for a single.
16.51 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Kusal Perera, Outside off, punched through the covers for a single. 150 UP FOR SRI LANKA.
* Thisara Perera walks in at number 7, replacing de Silva.
16.48 IST: Hamid Hassan to Dhananjaya de Silva, OUT c Mohammad Shahzad b Hamid Hassan. Sri Lanka have lost their fifth wicket.
* Dhananjaya de Silva comes out at number 6 to face to music.
16.45 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Angelo Mathews, OUT! Third wicket in the over and Nabi has four! Outside off again, Mathews goes back to punch but gets a thick outside edge.
16.42 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Kusal Mendis, OUT! Edged and taken this time! Nabi gets the second wicket in the over. Full and outside off, Mendis looks to defend but the ball goes straight on, takes the outside edge and goes straight to Rahmat Shah at first slip!
16.41 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Lahiru Thirimanne, OUT! Dragged on! Nabi gets the second wicket. Outside off, Thirimanne plays a nothing shot, aiming to punch it towards the off side but there is no movement of the feet. Gets a thick inside edge onto the stumps.
16.34 IST: Hamid Hassan to Lahiru Thirimanne, The batsman plays it with an angled bat and guides it to third man. One run added to the total.
16.31 IST: Rashid Khan to Lahiru Thirimanne, Outside off, pushed through the covers for a couple.
16.28 IST: Hamid Hassan to Kusal Perera, The ball takes the outside edge goes towards the slip region. The batsmen have run through for a single.
* Hamid Hassan is back on the attack
16.24 IST: Rashid Khan to Lahiru Thirimanne, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total.
16.20 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Kusal Perera again makes good use of the Free Hit. Short and outside off, Perera slaps it through covers for a boundary.
16.18 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Kusal Perera, FREE HIT! FOUR! Nice shot. Length delivery outside off, Perera lofts it over covers for a boundary.
16.13 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Lahiru Thirimanne, On a good length and outside off, Thirimanne shoulders his arms to this one.
* DRINKS BREAK.
16.08 IST: Rashid Khan to Kusal Perera, Outside off, pushed uppishly! The ball holds on the pitch and Kusal just hangs his bat. It flies to the right of Rashid who is to his left in his follow-through and hence cannot reach. Rashid smiles.
16.05 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Lahiru Thirimanne, FOUR! FREE HIT! FOUR! Nice shot. Lahiru Thirimanne makes full use of the Free Hit. Short delivery on middle, Thirimanne pulls it straight over the bowler's head for a boundary.
* Lahiru Thirimanne walks in at number 3, replacing his skipper.
15.59 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Dimuth Karunaratne, OUT! In the air and taken! In the air and taken! Afghanistan strike at last. Full and around middle, Karunaratne comes down the track and looks to place it over the infield. But there is no power and he holes out to long on, where Najibullah Zadran takes a simple catch. The bat-face got closed at the last moment. End of a 92-run opening stand. Afghanistan 92/1 (13.1 overs)
15.53 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Dimuth Karunaratne, The batsman works it down the leg side. Two runs added to the total.
* Naib is back on the park but does not seem 100 percent. A little bit of blood is oozing out from his left elbow's wound. He is bowling though.
* Naib is going off the park. While putting in the dive on the previous ball to stop it, his left elbow seems to have got hurt.
15.48 IST: Gulbadin Naib to Dimuth Karunaratne, On middle, Dimuth looks to push but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat wide of the bowler towards mid on.
* The clouds seem to be clearing. The conditions are getting more and more pleasant. The pitch is easing out as well.
* POWERPLAY 2 time. 4 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over.
* Kusal Perera is playing a lot straighter today. Many times, he looks to play across which gets him into trouble. That is his strength but also becomes his weakness.
15.37 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Short and punished. Creamed through the covers.
15.35 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kusal Perera, FOUR! High, but not quite handsome. Kusal comes down the track and Mujeeb fires it wider outside off.
15.32 IST: Mohammad Nabi to Kusal Perera, Nice drift, full and on middle, Kusal comes down the track and flicks it towards short mid-wicket. Was almost beaten in the flight but adjusted well.
* Another bowling change. Mohammad Nabi coming in now.
15.29 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Dimuth Karunaratne, FOUR! Through mid-wicket!
* First bowling change. Mujeeb Ur Rahman into the attack.
15.25 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Dimuth Karunaratne, FOUR LEG BYES! Another ill-directed delivery.
15.23 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Kusal Perera, FIVE WIDES! Another bonus. Short and dug in the middle of the pitch, Perera stays where he is and the ball goes way over the keeper to the fine leg fence. Kusal is not happy.
15.20 IST: Hamid Hassan to Dimuth Karunaratne, FOUR! Another boundary! This is more of a placement. Worked wide of mid on.
15.18 IST: Hamid Hassan to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Up and over mid off! So much of Sanath Jayasuriya in that shot.
15.16 IST: Hamid Hassan to Dimuth Karunaratne, FIVE WIDES! Lack of control and some frustration early for Afghanistan. This was fired down the leg side and it took off after pitching. Mohammad Shahzad had to put his skates on to get to his right but could not quite get there.
15.13 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Kusal Perera, OUCH! On the rib cage. A short ball, around middle and leg, Perera looks to tuck it to the leg side but misses and is hit on the chest.
15.09 IST: Hamid Hassan to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Nice shot. Hamid starts with a short delivery, Perera pulls it through square leg for a boundary.
15.07 IST: Hamid Hassan to Kusal Perera, FOUR! FEROCIOUS! This is the Kusal Perera we know. See ball, hammer ball.
15.05 IST: Dawlat Zadran to Dimuth Karunaratne, FOUR! Sri Lanka are away now! A short ball, down the leg side, Karunaratne looks to tuck it away but the ball bounces, takes the glove and races towards fine leg. Rahmat Shah gives it a chase from first slip but in vain.
15.00 IST: The national anthems are done and dusted and it is time for the game to begin! The Afghans get together in a huddle and Gulbadin Naib has some last minute instructions. Out come Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera to open for Sri Lanka. So Thirimanne drops down the order today. Dawlat Zadran to begin the proceedings to the Lankan skipper. Here we go!
14.47 IST: PITCH:
14.39 IST: Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Kusal Perera (WK), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga
Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad (WK), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib (C), Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan
14.32 IST: TOSS - Afghanistan won the toss and opted to field first
Brief preview: Sri Lanka, who were comprehensively beaten by New Zealand in their opening game, will look to come out with much-improved performance when they take on dark horses Afghanistan in the ongoing World Cup at the Cardiff Wales Stadium here on Tuesday. Sri Lanka did not have the ideal start to their World Cup campaign as they lost by 10 wickets to the Black Caps on June 1. None of their batsmen -- apart from skipper Dimuth Karunaratne who remained unbeaten at 52, could stand against the hostile bowling from the Kiwi pacers and were bundled out for 136. The bowlers also failed to come up with an inspiring performance and proved ineffective as New Zealand chased down the target inside 16 overs. [Read full preview]
