Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan: 313/8 – 314/6 (Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets (2 balls left, Tied 1-1)
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan had one of the most thrilling matches in the recent times as Sri Lanka chased down a mammoth target of 314 runs in the final over of the match.
The 3rd One Day international of the three match ODI series was played on Wednesday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Afghanistan had earlier won the first ODI and led the series 1-0 while the second match of the series was washed out due to rainfall.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI Squad:
3rd ODI Afghanistan Squad:
Afghanistan had made one change to their side and handed a debut to the young Noor Ahmed.
Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
3rd ODI Sri Lanka Squad:
On the other hand, Sri Lanka made two changes to their side. Dunith Wellalage and Asitha Fernando had been brought into the side for Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya Lakshan.
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – Toss:
Afghanistan had won the toss and chosen to bat first.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – As it Happened:
Afghanistan’s decision of batting first had not turned out too well as Rajitha picked up two early wickets to limit them to 47/2 in the twelvth over of the innings. Soon after that they lost the third wicket as the scoreboard read 57/3. Afghanistan was in deep trouble at this point but a wonderful partnership between NajeebUllah Zadran and Ib rahim Zadran steadied the ship and saved them from embarrassment. The two took the score to 211. Najibullah got out for 77 while Ibrahim continued to slog at one end. He took Afghanistan to a respectable total of 313/8 and was dismissed off the last ball of the innings. He made an astonishing 162 runs from only 138 balls.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan – Run Chase by Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka’s chase started well as their openers provided a 100-run opening stand. Kusal Mendis had led the charge initially and made a sixty-one ball 67. Mohammad Nabi had provided the first wicket. Soon after that Rashid Khan picked up two wickets to limit Sri Lanka to 116/3. Charith Asalanka and Dasun shanaka offered some resistance with a 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Shanaka was dismissed for forty-three. The team score was 243 at that time. Sri Lanka needed seventy-one runs from fifty balls at that time. Soon after that Sri Lanka lost their 6th wicket as Hasaranga was dismissed for 2 runs only.
However, a 65-run partnership between Asalanka and Wellalage took Sri Lanka home as they chased down the gigantic target in the final over of the innings. Asalanka remained not out on eighty-three runs from 72 balls and was judged the man of the match for his amazing knock. Rashid Khan picked up four while Mohammad Nabi picked up 2 wickets for Afghanistan.
With that win, Sri Lanka equalized the three match ODI series 1-1.
Ibrahim Zadran was declared the player of the series.
What is ODI?
An One Day International (ODI) is a form of limited overs cricket, played between two teams with international status, in which each team faces a fixed number of overs, currently 50, with the game lasting up to 9 hours. The Cricket World Cup, generally held every four years, is played in this format. One Day International matches are also called Limited Overs Internationals (LOI), although this generic term may also refer to Twenty20 International matches. They are major matches and considered the highest standard of List A, limited-overs competition.
The international one-day game is a late-twentieth-century development. The first ODI was played on 5 January 1971 between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. When the first three days of the third Test were washed out officials decided to abandon the match and, instead, play a one-off one-day game consisting of 40 eight-ball overs per side. Australia won the game by 5 wickets. ODIs were played in white-coloured kits with a red-coloured ball.
