In an exhilarating encounter, Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by a massive margin of 132 runs in the second One Day International (ODI) to level the series at 1-1. The decider match is scheduled for 7th June, Wednesday, at 10 am IST (4.30 am GMT). Both teams will be eager to claim victory and secure the series.
Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, attributed the win to executing their plans more effectively compared to the previous game. He highlighted the advantage of winning the toss and batting first on a favorable pitch. Shanaka praised the ground staff for preparing an excellent playing surface. He commended the batting performance in the last 10 overs, particularly the contributions of Hasranga and himself. Shanaka emphasized the team’s shared goal of qualifying for the ICC World Cup, stating that the selectors would play a crucial role in their preparations.
Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi acknowledged that the match turned in Sri Lanka’s favor during the last 10 overs, where his team struggled to contain the opposition’s batting onslaught. Despite the loss, Shahidi expressed confidence in the team’s continuous improvement and unity. He noted that occasional setbacks would not deter them as a unit. Shahidi also mentioned that the pitch became increasingly difficult to bat on in the second half, which contributed to their loss of momentum.
Dhananjaya de Silva, who made a notable contribution to Sri Lanka’s victory, expressed his delight in playing a significant role. De Silva highlighted the challenging nature of the pitch, which slowed down as the game progressed, aiding the Sri Lankan bowlers in taking crucial wickets.
In the first innings, Sri Lankan batsmen made an explosive start, with Kusal Mendis leading the charge with 78 runs. Dimuth Karunaratne also scored a half-century, propelling the team to a commanding total of 323 runs. The Afghan bowlers struggled to find their rhythm and maintain consistent lines and lengths, with Mohammad Nabi being the standout performer among them.
Afghanistan began their chase positively but lost momentum after the dismissal of Ibrahim Zadran, who had scored a half-century along with Hashmatullah Shahidi. With seven Afghan batsmen falling for single-digit scores, they failed to deliver both with the bat and the ball. Afghanistan will aim to regroup and come back stronger in the next game.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained discipline, initially finding it challenging to pick wickets but gaining momentum after dismissing Ibrahim Zadran. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dhananjaya de Silva claimed three wickets each, while Dushmantha Chameera took two. Maheesh Theekshana and Dasun Shanaka contributed with one wicket each, completing a comprehensive team effort.
The resounding victory for Sri Lanka was a testament to their dominant performance with both bat and ball. They demonstrated their ability to bounce back after the previous defeat, setting the stage for an enthralling series decider.