The batting all-rounder Charith Asalanka was named the Player of the Match on the second ODI match against Afghanistan on a home tour.
Charith Asalanka on winning 2nd ODI vs Afghanistan
The side is set to play a 3-match ODI series and a 3-match T20I series in Afghanistan’s Sri Lanka tour 2024.
Sri Lanka secured the victory in the home ODI series against Afghanistan where they scored 300+ totals in both matches. Despite suffering with early dismissals, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera managed to provide stability to the batting line-up in the second ODI match.
Batting first Sri Lanka openers Nissanka and Avishka failed to create an impression as they were sent out with 18 and 5 runs.
Kusal Mendis and Samarakwickrama smashed half-centuries and helped the side to score 100+ scores in their innings. After Samarakwickrama’s dismissal, Asalanka joined the side to score 97* runs on 74 deliveries.
Charith Asalanka leads the way with an unbeaten 97. 🔥🔥🔥 #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/O47nUTaYrG
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 11, 2024
Janith Liyanage smashed 50 on 48 deliveries and helped the side to reach 250+ scores. With Hasaranga’s 14 runs, Sri Lanka scored 308 runs in their innings.
With the target of 309 runs, Afghanistan opened their innings where Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah were the only run scorers in the match as they smashed 54 and 63 runs respectively.
Other batters failed to score double-digit runs in the match and they lost all 10 wickets in the 34th over for 153 runs.
While speaking in the post-match presentation, Asalanka said, “Always challenging when I am playing at 5. I don’t when I will go in. Sadeera and Mendis batted well. I had a chat and thought will carry the innings through. I was looking at 270-280. When Janith came in, I thought we would get to 320 even. I was a bit confused and couldn’t get as much as I tried,” he concluded.
Sri Lanka’s home tour still has one ODI match and a T20I leg which is set to be played in the upcoming days.
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be playing their third ODI match on February 14 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
