ICC World Cup 2019: Match 7, Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka – Best Memes from the Match

Malinga's toe-crushers were too good for Afghanistan's tail-enders in the end.

By CricTracker Staff verified

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Sri Lankan team
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Sri Lankan team. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka have defeated Afghanistan in one of the brilliant comebacks in a World Cup game. The odds were stacked against the Islanders for most parts of the game. They were down and out after getting bowled out for just 201 runs and with DLS coming into effect, were left with only defending 186 runs. However, their bowlers came to the party big time and stunned Afghanistan to win the match by 34 runs.

After being put in to bat first, Sri Lanka seamlessly got the hold of the conditions this time with their new opening pair. Kusal Perera came out along with the skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and the former took the attack to the opposition from the word go. Afghanistan were forced to introduce their fourth bowler Mohammad Nabi only in the sixth over of the innings and though he contained runs, the other end continued to leak it.

It was the same off-spinner who drew first blood by sending Karunaratne back. However, the runs were coming thick and fast off Kusal Perera’s bat and he slammed a quickfire half-century as well. Lahiru Thirimanne batted at three and even he let the left-hander do the damage by rotating the strike. The 52-run partnership was broken by that man again, Nabi, in the 22nd over and lightning struck Sri Lanka here.

While Lahiru Thirimanne played a nothing shot to see the ball chop onto his stumps, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews joined their teammate in the dressing room in the same over. Sri Lanka were down to 146/4 from 144/1 in a matter of five balls and were soon reduced to 159/6. It was a collapse of high proportions which no one literally saw coming.

Afghanistan were struggling to even contain the runs at one stage and courtesy Nabi, they were bossing the proceedings. Amidst all the chaos, Kusal Perera fought a lone battle to score 78 and was sent back by Rashid Khan which was the final nail in Sri Lanka’s coffin. They were bowled out for 201 in the 37th over soon after the game resumed after the rain in the 41-over contest.

Afghanistan make a mess of the chase

Afghanistan were the favourites starting the chase and to add to Sri Lanka’s agony, the target came to down 187 according to DLS method. Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai began superbly to add 34 runs in less than five overs before the former was sent back by Lasith Malinga. Like Sri Lanka, Afghanistan also suffered a collapse here thanks to some fierce bowling and impeccable fielding from the Islanders.

The likes of Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and most importantly Mohammad Nabi got out in quick succession to leave the team reeling at 57/5. Then came a fighting partnership from Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran as they somehow kept the team in the game. But with the former losing his wicket, all went downhill for Afghanistan quickly.

Najibullah played a fighting hand once again and scored 43 runs but things went out of his hand with the tail-enders not being able to contribute from the other end. Nuwan Pradeep and especially, Lasith Malinga were too good for them as they rattled the opposition for 152 runs to stage a sensational comeback in the game. Sri Lanka won the game by 34 runs by DLS method to get two of the most important points to their name in the World Cup.

Here are some of the best memes:

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ICC Cricket World Cup 2019Sri Lanka