Nuwan Pradeep and Lasith Malinga, on Tuesday, starred with the ball as Sri Lanka fought back to crush Afghanistan’s hopes of a memorable victory in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
Afghanistan, bidding for just their second win in a World Cup match and their first over a Test nation were in command halfway through a gloomy day in Cardiff after dismissing Sri Lanka for 201.
They then got with a rain-revised target of 187 in 41 overs but their batting let them down again as the Afghans were bowled out for paltry 152 in 32.4 overs.
Pradeep took a career-best 4 for 31, while Malinga (3 for 39) struck at both ends of the innings, finishing the match with a toe-crushing yorker that cleaned up Hamid Hassan.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Well done boys!!! room for improvment but showed under presure that we do have quality. Bowling unit was excellent and Nuwan pradeep was outstanding today..👊 points on the board 👍
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay)
http://twitter.com/imDhammika/status/1135972723388166144
Great win .
— Salman Butt (@im_SalmanButt)
Excellent bowling from Sri Lanka, hopefully, Afghanistan learn the right lessons and get better.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS)
Sensational win Sri Lanka. Brilliant comeback. Never gave up. Cricket unites Sri Lankans like no other.
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket)
Thanks to getting the team selection right on that pitch they were able to get out of jail
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
played the right team…and played with the right intent in parts. They are better than this….but for the time being, this shall do. First win of
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Lasith Malinga ended the match with his trademark yorker 🎯
SCOREBOARD–>— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
First win for Lasith Malinga since his International return in 2018 September, first ODI win for him after 2017 after 21 ODIs
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen)
For his match-winning spell of 4/31, Nuwan Pradeep has been adjudged the Player of the Match!
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup)
