Day 13 had two clashes. First one was between two associates Afghanistan and Scotland. Afghanistan was looking for their first victory in world cup cricket. While Scotland was also looking for their first victory but in this world cup. The other clash was between two Asian teams Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Where Sri Lanka wanted to prove that they are still a strong side and Bangladesh wanted pull off an upset.
Game 17: Scotland vs Afghanistan
Nabi won the toss and chose to field first to take the advantage of seamong conditions at Dunedin. Afghanistan bowlers lived upto the expectations of captain as Dalwat Zadran provided him the break through in the 2nd over of the innings. He sent MacLeod back to the pavilion for duck. Apart from this wicket Zadran brothers kept it really tight at the start. Hamid Hasan joined them in 7th over and he bowled nice tight line from the word go. Scotland was 38/1 after 10 overs. Hamid took second wicket of scotish innings in the 11th over at the total of 38 only. He was rewarded for keeping it nice and tight. Coetzer was not able to hold on for too long and the ball went through his defence trying to drive angled in delivery of Dalwat Zadran. Scotland in all sorts of trouble at 40/3.
Skipper Mommsen and in form Machan kept the scoreboard ticking. They added 53 runs to the total before Machan tried make room to go over covers but he missed the straighter delivery and his off stump was knocked back. He was timing the ball really well and it was needed at that time. Mommsen followed him as he edged one straight to the keeper. Scotland lost their fifth wicket on 95. Then there was no real partnership. Scotland was struggling at 144/8. I thought Afghanistan will wrap them up around 175 but Haq and Evans had some other plans. They added 62 runs for the 9th wicket and took the total to 206 before Haq got out. Scotish innings then was wraped up for 210. Shapoor Zadran was pick of the bowlers as he picked up 4 for 38. Zadran brothers picked up 7 wickets among them. Afghanistan needed 211 runs to get their first victory in world cups.
Afghanistan was off to a flyer and was looking good until Evans toppled Mangal's stumps and deceived Asghar of extra bounce in the same over. Evans picked up two wickets in one over. Javed was hitting the ball well on one end and Shenwari came and started playing sensibly at the other. Javed got out after hitting half century. Afghanistan was 85/3 after Javed's wicket. After Javed's wicket Scotland never looked back they kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. It was almost over for Afghanistan at 132/8. There was no stoppage for Scotland at that stage but one player stood between Scotland and victory and that was Shenwari. He took the responsibility of scoring runs while Dalwat Zadran and Hamid Hasan were just doing the job of blocking the deliveries. Match went down to the wire and when it looked like that Shenwari will take Afghanistan to victory he hit one staright into the hands of deep mid-wicket. Afghanistan was 192/9 when Shenwari got out. It was upto Shapoor and Hamid then to take their team to victory. They kept their cool till the end and took their team home. As they hit winning runs Shapoor went mad and there was agony all over the ground. Afghanistan registered their first win in world cup cricket. Afghanistan celebrated that victory as if they have won the world cup. It showed how much that victory meant to them.
Game 18: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
Angelo Matthews won the toss and chose to bat first at MCG. MCG's wicket had pace and bounce and the ball was comes nicely on the bat. Keeping that thing in mind it was a great decision to bat first. Sri Lanka was off to a shaky start. Thirimanne was dropped by Bijoy at first slip in the very first over. Thirimanne was living dangerously even after that drop but Dilshan was solid at other end. Thirimanne had all the luck that day. He was edging the ball oftenly but was either falling short or going wide of the fielder. Sri Lanka made 51 runs off first 10 overs and doubled it in 21st over. Thirimanne were still getting lives from Bangladeshis. In 22nd over Rahim missed stumping of Thirimanne. After that Thirimanne brought up his fifty in 24th over and straight away after his fifty he was caught at third man in 25th. What an innings that was after getting so many chances finally third man fielder caught him.
Sangakkara came out to bat in his 400th ODI. It felt like he was batting somewhere as from the word go he was playing in full flow. On the other hand Dilshan was growing strength to strength. Both of them were getting runs pretty quickly. When you are trying for big shots you are bound to give some chances. In 33rd over Sangakkara hit one staright back to bowler and Taskin took the catch in his follow through but it came out as he landed on his elbow. Taskin almost pulled off a blinder there. Nothing was going their way that day. Soon Dilshan brought up his hundered and Sri Lanka was looking damn good. Sangakkara also brought up his fifty. After 40 overs Sri Lanka was 217/1 and 300 was definitely on cards. Only thing to see was how much more than 300 Sri Lanka is going to get. In 42nd over Sangakkara gave another chance and Bangladesh dropped another sitter. Bangladesh were just terrible in the field that day. Sangakkara is not a kind of who will not capitalize on the chances. He went on to make another 100 but it came in last over. Before that Dilshan brought its 150. Sri Lanka ended up at 332 off 50 overs.
Malinga cleaned up Tamim Iqbal on the second ball of the innings. With Iqbal's wicket the rate of scoring runs never came anywhere near to required rate. Required rate just kept on climbing. Bangladesh was 100/5 when two of their best batsmen Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim came together. They added 64 runs to the total before Shakib got out on 46 off 59 balls. Bangladesh was struggling at 164/6 and they never came out of that struggle then. Rahim got out on 36 at the total of 208. Sabbir was the only bangladeshi batsman who hit the half century. He got out at 240 after making 53 off 62 balls. Bangladesh innings was over on 240 and it was comprehensive victory for Sri Lanka. Players like Dilshan and Malinga got confidence from that match. It was much needed boost for Sri Lanka before the key clashes against England and Australia. Bangladesh on other hand need to work on their game. They need to raise their standard to perform well in the events like world cup.
It was that day of cricket which will be written in golden words in the history of Afghanistan cricket. Finally Afghanistan had a win in this world cup. They have made into this world cup after lot of hardships and every victory in this world cup means a lot for them. On other hand it was confidence boosting victory for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka needed it before playing against England and Australia. South Africa will play West Indies on day 14. Both the teams have lot to play for. Hope we have another exciting day of cricket.
#CWC15 day 14
#CWC15 day 14
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