Lack of experience proved costly: Shenwari

Afghanistan believe a lack of experience cost them the chance of a major World Cup upset on Sunday when Sri Lanka escaped with a four-wicket win in their Pool A clash. A century by Mahela Jayawardene, who featured in a 126-run stand with Angelo Mathews, rescued Sri Lanka from a disastrous start when they were 51-4 chasing 233 to win. “It was very disappointing because we took four early wickets and Mahela, very experienced player, and Mathews, also very experienced, took the match from us,” Afghanistan batsman Samiullah Shenwari said. Shenwari featured in an 88-run partnership with Asghar Stanikzai for the third wicket in an innings he believed was 30-40 runs short and exposed Afghanistan’s rawness at the top international level. It was the first time in their short 47-match ODI history that the top eight batsmen posted double figures in one match but only Stanikzai (54) reached a half century with Shenwari’s 38 the only other score above 30. “We need some more matches with Asian teams to get more experience. We need some time from the ICC to give us more matches against Test nations so maybe we get more used to it. On Sunday was a good game but in the middle me and Asghar played an 80 partnership but we didn’t make the 30-40 runs missing in this match. Our bowlers did very well. Fifty runs, four wickets, it was a good chance to beat Sri Lanka but Mahela and Mathews took the match away,” Shenwari said.