ICC World Cup 2019: Twitter Reacts as Afghanistan Comes Up With a Stellar Comeback Against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka was bundled out for 201 after Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib won the toss and decided to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the seventh match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019. Sri Lankan team had folded up for a paltry score of 136 against New Zealand but their openers came up with a better performance. Kusal Perera who was promoted to the opening position with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne cleared his intentions from the first ball he faced – whacked through the square leg side.

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Kusal Perera was able to hit the ground running as he got quick runs from the get-go. The southpaw batsman catapulted his attack on the Afghanistan bowlers whereas Sri Lanka’s skipper Dimuth Karunaratne took a backseat to Perera’s assault.

Sri Lanka collapsed like a house of cards.

The two left-handers added a fine alliance of 92 runs and struck 79 runs in the first ten overs to lay down the platform for the middle order. However, Karunaratne could not time his big shot when he advanced down the track against Mohammed Nabi and gave a simple catch to Najibullah Zadran at long-on.

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Subsequently, Lahiru Thirimanne and Kusal Perera added 52 runs for the second wicket. Sri Lanka was 144-1 and the landslide of their batting order began soon after. The Island nation lost five wickets for 38 runs between overs 21 and 30 to see themselves slid from a strong position to 182-8 before rain intervened.

Afghanistan needs to get a revised target of 187.

Afghanistan’s talisman all-rounder Mohammed Nabi was the chief destroyer as the off-spinner was accurate with his line and length.  Nabi scalped three wickets of Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Matthews in the 22nd over to push Sri Lanka behind the eighth-ball. Dhananjaya de Silva was dismissed when his outside edge was taken by Mohammed Shahzad. Furthermore, Thisara Perera was run-out to add fuel to the fire for Sri Lanka’s agony.

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Noticing his partners come and go, Kusal Perera attempted a reverse sweep against Rashid Khan. However, the southpaw batsman got a faint edge which was nicely taken by Mohammed Shahzad.

Here is how Twitter Reacted:

That is outstanding bowling from Nabi.He is showing again and again that you can survive and trouble the batsmen with traditional finger off spin.Only focus on bowling the right areas and make use of the angle.Well done ?#AFGvSL #CWC19

— Aryan Bhalla (@AryanBhalla57) June 4, 2019

Sri Lanka's highest scorer – Kusal Perera: 78

Sri Lanka's second highest scorer – Extras: 35#CWC19 #AFGvSL

— Ravi Singh ? (@Imravi_singh07) June 4, 2019

Nabi is making old-fashioned off-spin fashionable. Love the way he changes pace and also, move the arm a little high or round-arm to create New angles. #CWC19 #SLvAfg

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 4, 2019

Oh Sri Lanka!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 4, 2019

How Mohammed Nabi took 3 wickets in that over with those seemingly harmless deliveries is beyond me.

What a collapse by the Sri Lankans.#AFGvSL #WorldCup2019

— Mike (@TheMikeView) June 4, 2019

Sri Lanka's highest scorer – Kusal Perera: 78

Sri Lanka's second highest scorer – Extras: 35#CWC19 #AFGvSL

— Ravi Singh ? (@Imravi_singh07) June 4, 2019

What an over from Mohammed Nabi
3 Wickets in Single over.#AFGvSL #WorldCup2019

— Al Pacino (@RamneekK9) June 4, 2019

WHAT IS HAPPENING?! Sri Lanka get off to amazing start. Kusal Perera passes 50 and now they seem in disarray thanks to a genius spell from Mohammed Nabi losing 3 wickets for 3 runs in 4 balls #AFGvSL

— Looking at a 6th European trophy for Liverpool now (@j_6700) June 4, 2019

Nabi – Whaaaattt a player!!!!

— S Jafar Mohammed (@Jafar_Mohammed) June 4, 2019

Take a bow Mohammed Nabi.

Three wickets in one over.

Thirmane
Mendis
Matthews

MASSIVE OVER

— Seeby (@seeby123) June 4, 2019

If Afghanistan can restrict/dismiss Sri Lanka to about 200 runs, then their target will be 186 in 41 overs!#CWC19#CWC2019#SLvAfg#AfgvSL

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 4, 2019

Mohammed Nabi is on fire! ? Afghanistan have broken the back of the Srilankan innings.. Great Scenes! #CWC19 #AFGvSL

— PRANAV (@P9Pranav) June 4, 2019