Afghanistan beat Pakistan in World Cup warm-up match

Sports Desk: Afghanistan beat Pakistan by three wickets in a World Cup warm-up match at Bristol featuring an unbeaten 74 from Hashmatullah Shahidi.

Opener Hazratullah Zazai hit 49 and Mohammad Nabi added 34 to see Afghanistan to victory.

Earlier, Nabi took 3-46 as Pakistan were bowled out for 262 despite a century from Babar Azam.

In the other World Cup warm-up match, South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs in Cardiff.

Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis top-scored with 88, ably supported by Hashim Amla (65) in a partnership worth 128 for the second wicket following the early dismissal of Aiden Markram for 21.

After both fell in successive overs, Rassie van der Dussen (40) and Andile Phehlukwayo (35) hit close to a run a ball to help South Africa reach 338-7.

Sri Lanka batsman Avishka Fernando had to be carried off on a stretcher when he was injured while fielding in the covers. However, he is still expected to be fit for the World Cup after scans revealed he had suffered only a minor ankle injury.

Sri Lanka began poorly in reply and were reduced to 10-2 inside three overs thanks to two wickets from Lungi Ngidi (2-12).

Dimuth Karunaratne (87) and Angelo Mathews (64) showed resistance but Phehlukwayo took 4-36 to help bowl out Sri Lanka inside 43 overs.

South Africa face West Indies in their second warm-up game at Bristol on Sunday before opening the tournament against hosts England on 30 May.

Sri Lanka meanwhile take on Australia in their final warm-up game at Southampton on Monday before their World Cup opener against New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday 1 June.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/May 25, 2019/Mukul