Table of Contents
The rivalry between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka has become increasingly fascinating in recent years. While Sri Lanka brings decades of experience and World Cup success, Afghanistan has emerged as one of the fastest-growing teams in international cricket. Their clash during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Pune was crucial for both teams as they aimed to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage. Afghanistan delivered an impressive all-round performance, producing disciplined bowling and a composed run chase. This match showcased the maturity of the Afghan side and highlighted why encounters between these teams have become more competitive. Here is a complete breakdown of the scorecard, key moments, records, and head-to-head statistics from this exciting contest.
Match Summary
The match was played on 30 October 2023 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sri Lanka posted 241 runs in 49.3 overs, but Afghanistan chased the target comfortably and secured a seven-wicket victory with 28 balls remaining. Fazalhaq Farooqi earned the Player of the Match award for his brilliant bowling performance.
Full Match Scorecard
First Innings Scorecard – Sri Lanka
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
| Pathum Nissanka | 46 | 60 | 5 | 0 |
| Kusal Mendis | 39 | 50 | 3 | 0 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | 36 | 40 | 3 | 0 |
| Angelo Mathews | 23 | 26 | 1 | 1 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 29 | 31 | 3 | 1 |
Total: 241 all out in 49.3 overs
Bowling Figures – Afghanistan
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 10 | 34 | 4 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 10 | 38 | 2 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 8.3 | 37 | 1 |
| Rashid Khan | 10 | 50 | 1 |
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 | 58 | 74 | 2 | 1 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 73* | 63 | 6 | 3 |
Total: 242/3 in 45.2 overs
Bowling Figures – Sri Lanka
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 9 | 48 | 2 |
| Kasun Rajitha | 10 | 48 | 1 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 10 | 55 | 0 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 9.2 | 51 | 0 |
Fall of Wickets
| Score | Batter |
| 0 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
| 57 | Ibrahim Zadran |
| 131 | Rahmat Shah |
Match Result
Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets to record one of their most significant victories in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The result strengthened Afghanistan’s hopes of reaching the semifinals and underlined their growing reputation in world cricket.
Player of the Match
Fazalhaq Farooqi produced a brilliant spell of 4 wickets for 34 runs. His ability to remove key batters prevented Sri Lanka from posting a bigger total and played a decisive role in Afghanistan’s victory.
Key Moments
Fazalhaq Farooqi struck early and continued to trouble the Sri Lankan batting lineup throughout the innings. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis built a useful partnership, but regular wickets stopped Sri Lanka from accelerating. During the chase, Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stabilized the innings before Azmatullah Omarzai finished the match with an unbeaten 73.
Match Highlights
| Highlight | Details |
| Venue | Pune |
| Sri Lanka Total | 241 |
| Afghanistan Total | 242/3 |
| Winning Margin | 7 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Fazalhaq Farooqi |
Records Broken During the Match
Afghanistan recorded another memorable World Cup victory over a Full Member nation. Azmatullah Omarzai played one of his best innings in ICC tournaments, while Fazalhaq Farooqi strengthened his position among the leading wicket-takers in the competition. The win also demonstrated Afghanistan’s remarkable progress on the global stage.
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | Afghanistan Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | No Result |
| ODI | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| T20I | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Sri Lanka still leads the overall rivalry, but Afghanistan has narrowed the gap considerably through several impressive performances in recent years.
Recent Meetings
| Year | Tournament | Winner |
| 2023 | ICC World Cup | Afghanistan |
| 2023 | ODI Series | Sri Lanka |
| 2022 | Asia Cup | Sri Lanka |
| 2019 | World Cup | Sri Lanka |
Major Records
| Record | Achievement |
| Best Bowling Figures | Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/34) |
| Highest Team Total | Sri Lanka 323/6 |
| Lowest Team Total | Afghanistan 116 |
| Fastest Fifty | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| Highest Individual Score | Charith Asalanka 91 |
Conclusion
The Afghanistan National Cricket Team Vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 highlighted Afghanistan’s remarkable rise in international cricket. Their disciplined bowling and composed batting helped them secure a convincing seven-wicket victory. Although Sri Lanka still holds the advantage in the overall head-to-head record, recent contests show that Afghanistan has developed into a serious competitor capable of challenging any team on the world stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who won the Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 match?
Afghanistan won the match by seven wickets.
- Who was named Player of the Match?
Fazalhaq Farooqi received the award after taking four wickets.
- How many runs did Sri Lanka score?
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 241 runs in 49.3 overs.
- Who scored the highest runs for Afghanistan?
Azmatullah Omarzai remained unbeaten on 73 runs.
- Where was the match played?
The match took place at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
