Published: Feb 22, 2015, 08:24 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 22, 2015, 08:24 AM (IST)
Sri Lanka lost their third wicket with just 18 runs on board as they headed for an embarrassing collapse against Afghanistan during their Pool A fixture of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at the University Oval in Dunedin on Sunday. Veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara was the man dismissed, heading back to the pavilion for a score of seven off 13 balls, getting his stumps rattled by pacer Hamid Hassan. Live Scorecard: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Pool A match at Dunedin
The Hassan delivery went right through the gate after Sangakkara tried to defend it, with the ball swinging in all the way from outside off. The dismissal served to pile on Sri Lanka’s miseries, after they lost both their openers with just two runs on board. Afghanistan, on the other hand, have set things in motion for a major upset, which would be their first World Cup victory. Live Updates: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Pool A match at Dunedin
Afghanistan were earlier bowled out for a score of 232 in 49.4 overs, with Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari top-scoring for their side with knocks of 54 and 38 respectively aside from sharing a 88-run partnership in 105 deliveries. Lasith Malinga and skipper Angelo Mathews emerged the pick among the Sri Lankan bowlers, both of them recording figures of three for 41 off 9.4 and seven overs respectively. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Afghanistan were cruising at a score of 128 for two at one stage, when Stanikzai and Shenwari were well-settled at the crease, before Stanikzai’s wicket became the turning point of the match. Afghanistan eventually went on to lose wickets in tandem, batting disappointingly during the powerplay overs in which they scored only 10 runs from the five overs, losing two wickets in the process. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
Sri Lanka earlier won the toss and elected to field first. Both teams opted for a change in their playing elevens, with Sri Lanka including all-rounder Thisara Perera in place of Nuwan Kulasekara, while Afghanistan decided to go for Dawlat Zadran instead of Aftab Alam. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
