Afghanistan shocked Sri Lanka as they recorded a dominant six-wicket win in the first ODI match at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota on Friday, June 2. The Full-strength Sri Lankan crew managed to rating 268 runs whereas batting first with Charith Asalanka top-scoring with 91 off 95. But the touring Afghanistan crew simply chased the goal after a sensational knock from opener Ibrahim Zadran with 19 balls remaining.
The stand-in skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi received the toss for Afghanistan and elected to bowl first. In an enormous shock for Afghanistan, Rashid Khan was dominated out of the first two video games with a again damage. On the opposite hand, the hosts handed worldwide debuts to pacer Matheesha Pathiran and leg spinner Dushan Hemantha.
The veteran batter Dimuth Karunaratne returned to ODI cricket after two years of hole and opened an innings with Pathum Nissanka. But the previous Test skipper managed to rating simply 4 runs earlier than getting dismissed on Fazalhaq Farooqi’s supply in the third over. Sri Lanka additionally misplaced in-form wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis on simply 11 runs however Nissanka scored essential 38 runs to hold the scoreboard shifting.
Sri Lankan high order struggled in opposition to the Afghan bowling assault as they failed to type any significant partnerships. Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Nissanka in the fifteenth over and Sri Lanka had been down to 4/84. But Charith Asalanka and Dhanajaya de Silva produced a 99-run stand for the fifth wicket to assist Sri Lanka submit a combating complete. Asalanka scored 91 off 95 whereas Dhananjaya added 51 runs as Sri Lanka’s innings collapsed to 268 runs in 50 overs.
While chasing a tricky complete, Afghanistan misplaced their first wicket in the type of wicketkeeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the sixth over. Lahiru Kumara bowled out the opener however the hosts failed to capitalize on that. Zadran and Rahmat Shah pulled off a 146-run partnership for the second wicket to guarantee an early win for Afghanistan. Pathirana picked his maiden worldwide wicket in the type of Rahmat Shah who scored 55 runs however endured a expensive spell on his debut.
Zadran missed out on his fourth ODI ton by simply two runs as he was dismissed by Kasun Rajitha in the thirty seventh over. But his knock had put Afghanistan in a cushty place to win the sport. Zadran received the Player of the Match award as Afghanistan recorded a simple win. After three-match ODI collection in opposition to Afghanistan, Sri Lanka journey to Zimbabwe for the World Cup 2023 Qualifiers beginning on June 18.
