Sri Lanka ‘A’ prevail to take 2-0 lead

By M. Shamil Amit

Apr. 30 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka ‘A’ prevailed with a comfortable eight wicket win over Afghanistan ‘A’ in the second match of the five match ODI series played at the Sooriyawewa Stadium today to take a 2-0 lead.

The match was hampered by rain which saw the host side being set a revised target of 101 runs in 30 overs which they achieved with ease in the 17th over. The win came on the back of a second wicket stand of 50 runs between Nishan Madushka and Kamil Mishara who made an unbeaten 45 in 46 balls that included six boundaries and shared another unbroken stand of 34 runs for the third wicket with deputy skipper Nuwanidu Fernando.

Earlier in the day the visitors taking first lease of the wicket was made to struggle for their runs by right arm pacies Mohamed Shiraz and Chamika Gunasekera who sent them reeling to 30 for 6 in the 11th over before Qais Hamad and Farmanullah Safi began a recovery act.

The proceedings came to a halt after the pair had added 35 runs with Afghanistan ‘A’ on 65 for 6 in the 17th over. On resumption they added a further 40 runs before they were separated with the run out dismissal of Farmanullah who made 37 with three boundaries and a six having associated in a 75 runs stand for the seventh wicket with Qais.

Qais who made a top score of 46 in 49 balls with a boundary and three sixes held on but they lost two quick wickets before he fell a victim to skipper Sahan Arachchige who cleaned off the tail with two scalps to bowl them out for 121 runs. The two sides will play their third match on May 3 at the same venue.

Result:

At Sooriyawewa Stadium – Sri Lanka ‘A’ won by eight wickets on D/L

Afghanistan ‘A’ 121 in 27.2 overs (Qais Ahmad 46, Farmanullah Safi 37: Mohamed Shiraz 2/17, Sahan Arachchige 2/23, Chamika Gunasekera 2/28)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 104 for 2 in 15.2 overs (Lahiru Udara 20, Kamil Mishara 45 n.o., Nuwanidu Fernando 17 n.o.)