Charith Asalanka who played a vital role in Sri Lanka’s victory in the final ODI match against Afghanistan says really happy with this performance after his unbeaten 83.
Charith Asalanka on His Match-Winning 83 Runs
The Afghanistan cricket team has been scheduled to tour Sri Lanka to play 3 match ODI series as a part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League 2023.
Afghanistan cricket team under Hashmatullah Shahidi have won their opening match by beating Sri Lanka by massive 60 runs and took a lead in the three-match ODI series. While both teams were keen to register their victory in the second ODI, the rain interrupted and stops the match which resulted – No Result.
The third ODI match which was scheduled to play on November 30 remains the do-or-die match for the Sri Lanka cricket team as they were in need to win the match in order to tie the series.
Winning the toss Afghanistan choose to bat first where the opening batter Gurbaz failed to score the expected runs and walks to Pavillion after scoring just 5 runs. Ibrahim Zadran scored 162 runs and becomes Afghanistan’s highest ODI run scorer.
With a 314 runs target, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis opened the innings and made a hundred runs partnership stand. Nabi made the first break through by dismissing Mendis for 67 runs.
While the followed players contributed to the run chase, Sri Lanka were in trouble at 249-6, but the left-handed pair of Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage put on an unbeaten stand of 65 to lead the team to victory with two balls left to bowl.
Charith Asalanka who won the player of the match award for his unbeaten 83 runs said: “Really happy with this performance. We were behind this chase, but we came out of it strong. I believe in my captain, he’s a magnificent player, and his 40-odd runs were very helpful.
I believed all the way, I know Wella (Wellalage) is a good player. The leg is better now, but at some stages, I thought I must come out. Glad I fought through it”.
Sri Lanka will play their next international match against New Zealand in March 2023. In the meantime, Sri Lanka Cricket will host the third edition of the Lanka Premier League in December 2022.
