Summary

  • Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary

  • Afghanistan chase 242 to boost semi-final hopes

  • Win takes them to six points - two behind NZ and Australia in third and fourth

  • Rahmat, Hashmatullah and Azmatullah all make half-centuries as they win with 28 balls to spare

  • Sri Lanka bowled out for 241 in 49.3 overs, having been 134-2

  • Nissanka top-scores with 46, while Mendis adds 39 & Samarawickrama 36

  • Farooqi takes 4-34 & Mujeeb 2-38

  • Get Involved: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Afg 180-3published at 37.2 overs

    Azmatullah Omarzai has a punchy 30 off 31 balls which is just what the doctor ordered in the circumstances.

    Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis ends up demolishing the stumps with his legs attempting to stop a wild throw from the boundary.

    Here's' that six he hit off Maheesh Theekshana a little while ago.

  2. Postpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Niall O'Brien
    Ex-Ireland wicketkeeper on Test Match Special

    You could understand some nerves but Afghanistan haven't panicked at all. They are cruising at the moment.

  3. Afg 178-3published at 37 overs

    Niall O'Brien gets his wish as Maheesh Theekshana is brought into the attack.

    No real sense of urgency from Azmatullah Omarzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi against him, though.

    Hashmatullah sweeps his third ball but the sweeper cuts it off to ensure there's only a single.

    Four runs off the over. With 64 needed from 78 balls Afghanistan do not need to go berserk to get the job done here.

  4. Postpublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Niall O'Brien
    Ex-Ireland wicketkeeper on Test Match Special

    Building a few dots in a row will bring wickets, don't get greedy. Just hammer away at a length.

  5. Azmatullah survivespublished at 35.2 overs

    UltraEdge shows no bat on that.

    A review more in hope than expectation from Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis behind the stumps.

  6. Postpublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Charlie Taylor
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    I think there's daylight between bat and ball.

  7. Sri Lanka reviewpublished at 35.2 overs

    Azmatullah Omarzai attempts to repeat the trick to Dushmantha Chameera but does not connect...or does he?

    Sri Lanka think he might have feathered this.

    There's a review.

  8. Postpublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Niall O'Brien
    Ex-Ireland wicketkeeper on Test Match Special

    Azmatullah OmarzaiImage source, Getty Images

    Azmat extends his arms fully and hits the ball up. He never tries to keep it down, pumping it high into the Pune sky.

    A really good connection. Commitment was absolutely key there.

  9. 6 runs

    Afg 172-3published at 35.1 overs

    And another!

    This time Azmatullah Omarzai uses the pace of Dushmantha Chameera and upper cuts him over the wicketkeeper for six.

  10. Postpublished at 15:33 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    That's the big shot we were talking about. The release shot.

  11. 6 runs

    Afg 166-3published at 35 overs

    It's been about six overs since Afghanistan's last boundary so a welcome maximum for Azmatullah Omarzai.

    He rocks on the back foot and heaves Maheesh Theekshana's third ball over the head of the despairing dive of Pathum Nissanka at deep mid-wicket.

  12. Afg 156-3published at 33.3 overs

    It is Dushmantha Chameera rather than Maheesh Theekshana who gets the nod.

    There's a bit of a yes, wait, no from Azmatullah Omarzai after he drills one to mid-off and sets off, before changing his mind, then turning back.

    The shy at the stumps hits but Hashmatullah Shahidi gets back at the non-striker's end.

    Here's the last wicket to fall as Sri Lanka dropped then caught Rahmat Shah.

  13. Postpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Niall O'Brien
    Ex-Ireland wicketkeeper on Test Match Special

    Sri Lanka need wickets. It is time for their star man Maheesh Theekshana to come into the attack. He has four overs left and Sri Lanka would love to use those in the last 10 but I think they need to gamble now. They need one, ideally two, wickets.

  14. Afg 153-3published at 33 overs

    Definitely a bit more skiddy out there as Dhananjaya de Silva's latest over is flicked and dabbed into the gap for couple of ones and twos.

    89 runs from 102 balls it the equation for Afghanistan.

  15. Postpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Niall O'Brien
    Ex-Ireland wicketkeeper on Test Match Special

    Kasun Rajitha has been bowling well and at decent pace as well. I don't mind the option of going to the short ball. I would always prefer it being too high than chest-high and it being pumped for six.

  16. Afg 148-3published at 32 overs

    An untidy end to Kasun Rajitha's over as he bowls a wide - height rather than width - followed up by a single picked up from an overthrow.

  17. Postpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    I think the gap has already been closed to a large degree, Dan.

    Part of the issue is the lower ranked teams - especially the associate nations - rarely get opportunities to play a proper ODI series against the big boys.

    Abolishing the ICC Super League will only make them even more unlikely.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    How long before we see countries like Sri Lanka and Afghanistan seriously challenging the big teams? I think the performance gap is starting to close, and this format of cricket will be all the better for it. England could learn something from this, just in the mature and controlled way these two have gone about their innings.

    Dan H

  19. drinks break

    Afghanistan 145-3 atpublished at 31.4 overs

    Target 242

    A bit of sawdust required at one end with the dew so the umpires, keen not to waste any time, decide to take drinks with two balls of Kasun Rajitha's over remaining.

    What can only be described as a blanket attached to some sticks is also being dragged round the outfield.

  20. Postpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2023

    Aatif Nawaz
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    This has bubbled into quite the game now.