Tue, 19 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Sri Lanka square ODI series with 132 run win over Afghanistan

4 June 2023 06:31 pm - 4     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Sri Lanka bounced back to square the three-match one-day international series against Afghanistan on Sunday, with a comprehensive 132-run win at Hambantota.

Having amassed a target of 324, the Sri Lankan bowlers skittled out the tourists for 191 inside 43 overs for their biggest win in ODIs over Afghanistan.

Quick bowler Dushmantha Chameera, returning to the side after a seven-month layoff after ankle surgery, bowled a couple of hostile spells to finish with two for 18.

Sri Lanka will be buoyed by the return of their main strike bowler, as they head to Zimbabwe straight after the series to play World Cup qualifiers.

There are no such problems for Afghanistan, who have already qualified for the World Cup later this year in India.

Chameera was well backed up by part-time off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva, who finished with three wickets, including first-match hero Ibrahim Zardan.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga polished up the tail claiming three for 42.

Zardan, who had top scored in the first ODI with 98 runs, was again amongst the runs with 54.

But the scoreboard pressure got to him as he edged an attempted cut shot that was well taken by Kusal Mendis behind the stumps.

Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi top scored with 57 runs, before being trapped leg before by de Silva.

After that, there was little resistance by the Afghan batters as they lost six wickets for 23 runs.

Sri Lanka came into the game making four changes, having lost the first ODI by six wickets on Friday.

Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka had added 82 runs for the first wicket, with Karunaratne on a comeback trial doing well to post 52 off 62 balls.

Kusal Mendis then upped the tempo with a superb counter-attack, posting 78 off 75 balls with seven fours and one six.

The third wicket stand between Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who was playing his first ODI in more than three years, gave the innings much-needed impetus. The pair added 88 runs in 86 balls.

Sri Lanka's lower middle order was the driving force behind their total of 323, with the hosts scoring 109 runs in the last ten overs.

Fareed Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi were the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan finishing with two wickets apiece.

The third and final ODI will take place on June 7 also at Hambantota. (AFP)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 4

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Hapless Afgans face the real might of Lanka Sunday, 04 June 2023 06:57 PM

    Another trouncing and the aberration of the one off defeat can be covered up. That said the old boys in the team still need to kicked out, as the whole point of the old men is to give impetus not to face a first game defeat. Any youngster, will muster after an initial defeat, but the experienced are too long in the tooth to have allowed it to happen.

    Jude Monday, 05 June 2023 09:10 AM

    Whom to it may concern!??? Why Dushan Hemantha was dropped after his debut!??? If the Selectors including a new player, that player must play at least 3 to 5 games consecutively to evaluate performance!! The Selectors are discarding players apparently for no reason!! In the first place selectors should've selected Dunith Wellalage, yeah now that's my opinion. The Selectors making blunders in regular basis, that's the reason why SL standard of cricket is diminishing at an alarming rate. To put it in perspective, SL have lost 70% of the white ball games in the last 7 years.

    dickie bird Monday, 05 June 2023 01:44 PM

    Now what is needed is consistency !!!!! Charith Asalanka failed after the performance in the 1st game. Pathum Nissanka

    cricket fan Monday, 05 June 2023 06:05 PM

    After being completely outplayed in the first ODI it was a magnificant effort by Sri Lanka to win the second ODI by 130 runs. The Afghanistan team looked jaded on the field and a shadow of the team that played in the previous game. Their bowlers failed to impress and were clobbered to all parts of the ground. This Sri Lanka side looked very well balanced and strong the best I have seen in a long time.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H

Will the Mannar wind power project kill ecological treasures?

In February 2023, Adani Green Energy (Sri Lanka) Ltd was given provisional ap