Sri Lanka has a number of complications forward of its World Cup qualifiers in two weeks’ time after struggling a heavy six-wickets defeat towards Afghanistan.
Set a goal of 269, Afghanistan acquired there with 19 deliveries to spare on Friday to take the opener of the three-match one-day worldwide collection.
Ibrahim Zadran was the hero for the guests, prime scoring with 98 runs. The opening batter took the Sri Lankan quicks to activity throughout the Power Play as he raced to his half-century in simply 35 balls.
Zadran, a 21-year-old right-handed batter, settled down after the sphere restrictions as he added 146 runs with Rahmat Shah for the second wicket because the Afghans proved Sri Lanka’s complete of 268 was manner under par.
Kasun Rajitha broke the stand when he had Zadran caught at deep mid-wicket, simply two runs wanting his fourth ODI hundred.
Zadran’s 98 runs got here off 98 balls with 11 hits to the ropes and two over it.
Sri Lanka additionally dismissed Rahmat Shah for 55 when Matheesha Pathirana claimed his first ODI wicket. But Hashmathullah Shahidi’s 38 sealed the sport for his facet.
The Afghan captain shared 42 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Nabi, who remained 27 not out.
Sri Lanka introduced within the skilled Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews to the ODI squad to deal with the group’s batting woes.
But it was again to sq. one as they slumped to 84-4 with Mathews (12) and Karunaratne (4) not in a position to make large contributions.
Charith Asalanka held the Sri Lankan innings collectively together with his seventh half-century and went on to attain 91 off 95 balls with 12 fours. He was nicely backed up by Dhananjaya de Silva (51) as they shared a 99-run partnership for the fifth wicket. But Sri Lanka wanted way more than that.
Asalanka’s knock was some comfort for the Sri Lankans, however the former world champions wanted the senior gamers to place their palms up as there have been too many comfortable dismissals.
Afghanistan, which has already certified for the World Cup in India later this yr, was with out star bowler Rashid Khan, who sat out with a decrease again pressure. But their bowlers responded nicely maintaining Sri Lanka to a below-par complete slicing down the work of the batters.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
