(Cricket News) In the second One-Day International in Pallekele, Sri Lanka’s middle order, captained by Charith Asalanka, amassed a second consecutive 300-plus score, enabling them to win by 155 runs. With one game remaining in the three-match series, Afghanistan collapsed in their pursuit of victory.
Afghanistan, who were chasing 309, appeared to have well-positioned themselves for a late push, especially during the 97-run second wicket stand between Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran. However, after Asitha Fernando strangled Ibrahim’s leg, the Afghan innings collapsed. The following eight wickets they lost for just 25 runs saw Sri Lanka finish the batting in just 34 overs.
Asitha, who was playing in his first ODI after more than a year, and Dilshan Madushanka each scored two runs, while Wanindu Hasaranga claimed figures of 4 for 27. Pramod Madushan also completed his career with one.
Afghanistan has demonstrated in the past that going deep in the game is their tried-and-true strategy for pursuing big totals, and this plan was evident from the beginning. Due in great part to the tight lines and lengths of the Lankan seamers, neither Rahmanullah Gurbaz nor Ibrahim ventured to attack the bowling early on. Asitha managed to get one to seam away just enough to catch Gurbaz’s edge and record an unusually low eight out of twenty.
The sole meaningful partnership of the innings was then formed by Rahmat and Ibrahim, but even they had trouble maintaining the necessary pace. The needed rate increased to above 7.5 an over after Ibrahim was dismissed in the 27th over, but it was still manageable. But Hasaranga scored two in the course of one over.
After Rahmat was unable to reach the pitch for a leg break, he bowled Hashmatullah Shahidi through the gate after trapping him leg before with a googly. At that point, things started to go south.
After making a century in the first game, Azmatullah Omarzai used his pads to inside-edge a rather large ball from Madushan onto the stumps. The game’s second double-wicket over was then produced by Hasaranga. The other centurion from Friday, Mohammad Nabi, was the first to depart. He was bowled out by a fast bowler, and Ikram Alikhil was run out following some excellent work at backward square leg.
Afterwards, Madushanka bowled the third double-wicket over of the innings, trapping Noor Ahmad leg before head with the first ball after Qais Ahmed was caught at deep square leg. Afghanistan lost their final eight wickets in five overs as Hasaranga closed up the innings by getting Gulbadin Naib Leg Before Wicket.
Even though Sri Lanka lost wickets in pairs during their innings, they were able to regroup and pick themselves back up after each setback. That meant that, having chosen to bat first, four of their batters reached fifty and elevated them to 308 for 6. With a 97 off 74 balls, Asalanka completed a slow burn outing without losing. Alongside Hasaranga, it was his stand of 50 from 32 that propelled Sri Lanka over 300.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Asalanka of Janith Liyanage’s players hit fifty. The innings was supported by two century partnerships, the first between Mendis and Samarawickrama and the second between Liyanage and Asalanka. However, Sri Lanka scored 96 runs in the final 10 overs thanks to the partnership between Hasaranga and Asalanka.
Omarzai, who bowled 3 for 56, was the best of the Afghan bowlers, while Fazalhaq Farooqi’s bowling caused three catches to be dropped. Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, and Qais Ahmad all finished with one wicket each.
Nissanka appeared in fine form after Sri Lanka decided to bat, hitting three boundaries in his 17 balls. However, his assault was halted when he failed to make a full and accurate shot from Omarzai, leaving him out of position.
A couple of overs later, an inept Avishka Fernando was dismissed, reminding us of his three wickets in the previous series against Zimbabwe, as he edged a ball that was angling over, straight to point. Mendis and Samarawickrama came together as a result, and they rebuilt with borders acting only as a means of relieving mounting pressure. Gulbadin Naib gave Mendis an early reprieve as well, spilling a simple chance at short midwicket.
However, Samarawickrama threw one to mid-off, who was positioned on the edge of the circle, just as they were trying to increase the score. In the very next over, Mendis quickly drew one straight to a deep square leg. Then, Asalanka and Liyanage rebuilt before making a change in direction. With a lofted six down the ground, the latter reached his fifty, but he was caught at long-on while trying to hit a big shot again and fell one ball later.
In the death overs, Afghanistan did themselves no favours by dismissing Hasaranga and Asalanka. As a result, Asalanka was present to make sure Sri Lanka had a respectable total to defend, which they ultimately accomplished with ease.
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