Sri Lanka ‘A’ Team registered a thrilling win over Afghanistan ‘A’ Team in the first Unofficial ODI of the five-match series played today (28th April) at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
Sri Lanka were put into bat first by the visitors, and they managed to post a commanding total – 304/8 on the board. The openers Lahiru Udara and Nishan Madushka got the hosts off to a solid start, putting on 43 runs for the first wicket. Madushka and No. 3 batter Kamil Mishara then added a 99-run stand for the second wicket to strengthen their grip on the game. Madushka scored a fluent half-century, while Mishara made vital 48 runs at the top of the order for Sri Lanka.
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The middle-order batter Nuwanidu Fernando dominated the Afghan bowling attack, smashing 83 runs off 67 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 123.88.
In their turn with the bat, the visitors showed great fight but fell just short of 8 runs as per the DLS calculations. When the bad light stopped play in the 48th over of the innings, Afghanistan needed to score 286 runs but ended up only on 277/7. The Afghan opening batter Riaz Hassan made a brilliant century, while No. 3 batter Darwish Rasooli hit valiant 75 runs. For the hosts, the skipper Sahan Arachchige was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped 3 wickets for 40 runs in his 10-over spell.
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Sri Lanka ‘A’ will take on Afghanistan ‘A’ in the second One Day on the 30th of April at the same venue.
Brief Scores
Sri Lanka ‘A’ – 304/8 (50) Nuwanidu Fernando 83, Nishan Madushka 72, Kamil Mishara 48, Dushan Hemantha 20, Bilal Sami 4/51, Mohammad Saleem 3/63
Afghanistan ‘A’ – 277/7 (48) Riaz Hassan 100, Darwish Rasooli 75, Qais Ahmad 28, Shahidullah 20, Farmanullah 20*, Sahan Arachchige 3/40
Result – Sri Lanka ‘A’ won by 8 runs (DLS)
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