AFG Vs SL, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Afghanistan Beat Sri Lanka For Third Big Win - Statistical Highlights

Afghanistan continued their sensational 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup campaign with a comfortable seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka in Pune on Monday. With three wins -- all against former champions -- in six matches, they remain in contention for a semi-final spot. The Afghans had previously defeated England and Pakistan. (As It Happened | Scorecard | Photos)

Opting to bowl first, Afghanistan restricted Sri Lanka to 241 with Fazalhaq Farooqi taking a four-wicket haul. In reply, Rahmat Shah, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullh Omarzai hit fifties as the Afghans reached the target in 45.2 overs. With that, here's a look at the all key stats and numbers from match 30 of the ICC Cricket World Cup between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka:

- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first in this game, providing the 249th occasion of a team doing so in the World Cup. It also provided the sixth occasion of Afghanistan doing so in the World Cup.
 
- Sri Lanka lost the toss and were asked to bat first in this game to provide the 249th occasion of a team doing so in the World Cup. It also provided the 22nd occasion of Sri Lanka being inserted in a World Cup game.

- Fazalhaq Farooqi returned with figures of four for 34 in this game to provide the 169th occasion of a bowler capturing four wickets in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the third occasion of an Afghanistan bowler capturing four wickets in the World Cup. Shapoor Zadran (4/38) against Scotland in Dunedin on February 26, 2015, and Mohammad Nabi (4/30) against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 4, 2019, have previously achieved the feat.

- Fazalhaq Farooqi's figures provided the 236th occasion of a bowler capturing four or more wickets in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the third occasion of an Afghanistan bowler capturing four or more wickets in the World Cup.

- Sri Lanka were dismissed all out for 241 in this game to provide the 334th occasion of a team getting all out in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the 28th occasion of Sri Lanka getting dismissed all out in the World Cup.

- The innings marked the 334th occasion of a team getting dismissed all out in an innings in the World Cup batting first. It also provided the 14th occasion of Sri Lanka getting all out in the World Cup batting first.

- Sri Lanka were dismissed all out for 241 in this game to provide their highest team total in a completed innings in the World Cup when asked to bat first. The previous best was 235 all out in 50 overs against England at North Sound on April 4, 2007.

- Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for zero in this game to provide the 142nd occasion of an opening batter scoring zero in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the fifth occasion of an Afghanistan opening batter getting out for a duck in the World Cup.

- Afghanistan lost their first wicket without a run in this game to provide the 51st occasion of a team losing their first wicket without a run on the board in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the second occasion of Afghanistan losing their first wicket without a run in the World Cup. The first such instance for the Afghans was recorded on June 1, 2019, in a match against Australia in Bristol.

- Rahmat Shah (62), Hashmatullah Shahidi (58 not out) and Azmatullah Omarzai (73 not out) scored half-centuries in this game to provide the 53rd occasion of three or more batters scoring half-centuries in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the second occasion of Afghanistan’s three or more batters scoring half-centuries in an innings in the World Cup.

- Their knocks provided the 46th occasion of three batters scoring half-centuries in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the second occasion of Afghanistan’s three batters scoring half-centuries in an innings in the World Cup.

- Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai scored half-centuries in this game to provide the 12th occasion of batters batting at number three, four and five scoring fifties in an innings in the World Cup. This is the first occasion Afghan batters have done so.

- Hashmatullah Shahidi scored a fifty in this game to provide the 194th occasion of a captain, and the second by an Afghan captain, scoring a fifty in the World Cup. Shahidi's knock marked the 20th occasion of a captain scoring a fifty in the World Cup against Sri Lanka.

- Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai added 111 runs in an unbeaten partnership for the fourth wicket in this game to provide the 340th occasion of batters posting a three-figure stand in an innings in the World Cup. It also provides the fifth occasion of Afghanistan batters posting a three-figure stand in the World Cup.

- Their partnership provided the 48th occasion of batters posting a three-figure stand in an innings in the World Cup for the fourth wicket. It also provided the second occasion of Afghanistan batters posting a three-figure stand in the World Cup for the fourth wicket. The first occasion was the same pair -- 121 runs against India in Delhi on 11.10.23.

- Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai's stand provided the only occasion of batters adding 111 runs in an unfinished partnership in an innings in the World Cup. 

- Afghanistan won their fourth World Cup game while Sri Lanka suffered their 43rd loss in World Cup games. Sri Lanka now own the record for losing most matches in the World Cup. They went past Zimbabwe (42).

Stats courtesy: HR Gopala Krishna – Veteran cricket statistician