Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights 2023: SL beat AFG by 132 runs to level 3 match ODI series 1-1

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights: The second match of the 3-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan ended in the host team’s favor as Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 132 runs, leveling the series at 1-1. Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, would be the venue for all three ODI matches. The host team has now leveled the series 1-1 after losing the first match. The performance of Sri Lankan players throughout the match was dominating, as their batters performed well with the bat and were then accompanied by the Sri Lankan bowlers. Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by a massive 132 runs. Here are the highlights of the match:

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights 2023: Playing XI of both teams

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka made some changes after their first match, bringing Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana back into the team.

Sri Lanka Playing XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama (Replaces Angelo Mathews), Dasun Shanaka (C), Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga (replaces Dushan Hemantha), Maheesh Theekshana (Replaces Lahiru Kumara), Dushmantha Chameera (replaces Matheesha Pathirana), Kasun Rajitha.

Afghanistan: Afghanistan didn’t do any changes and played with the same line up.

Afghanistan Playing XI: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad

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Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights: Perfect start by openers and capitalized well by middle-order batters.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights 2023: After winning the toss, Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka (C), elected to bat first. Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka started the Sri Lankan innings. Both batters played well and built a partnership of 82 runs before Pathum Nissanka got out in the 16th over of the match. Mohammad Nabi got his first wicket of the match. Kusal Mendis came to the crease, and the duo started increasing the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Dimuth Karunaratne scored his fifty, but he was caught in front of the wicket by Noor Ahmad.

Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis played well and took the team’s score to 198 runs, but in the 37th over, Mujeeb Ur Rahman took Sadeera Samarawickrama’s wicket. Asalanka failed to impress this time. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis were accelerating the score, but in the 44th over of the match, Kusal Mendis, while trying to guide the ball to the third man, was caught behind by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who took a splendid catch. Kusal Mendis got out after scoring 78 runs.

Captain Dasun Shanaka tried giving the required pace to the run speed, but in the 48th over, after making 23 runs, he got out. Now, Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga ended the Sri Lankan innings with 322 runs on the board, which was a good total on the pitch they were playing.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights: Afghanistan batters failed to continue the momentum of the first match.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights 2023: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran opened the innings for Afghanistan to chase 323 runs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave his wicket to Dushmantha Chameera in the fourth over of the innings; he scored just 2 runs. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah continued the innings, but when Afghanistan’s score was 62 runs, Rahmat Shah’s wicket was taken by Dasun Shanaka. Ibrahim Zadran and Hashmatullah Shahidi continued the innings. Ibrahim Zadran was looking in good touch and scoring boundaries and sixes whenever required.

Ibrahim Zadran, continuing his great form, scored another half-century, but he got caught behind after making 54 runs. Hashmatullah Shahidi on the other end scored his half-century, but the required run rate was going up and the batters needed to shift gears, and while doing that, the captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, got caught at long-off. Batters afterwards failed to leave an impact, and Afghanistan’s team got all out after making 191 runs. Afghanistan lost the match by 132 runs.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights: Post-Match

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights: Now that the winner of the series will be decided in the final match of the series, Sri Lanka will gain confidence after this win and will come up well prepared for the upcoming fixture with Afghanistan. Afghanistan needs to bounce back and play as one unit if they want to win this series against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI highlights: Post-Match statements

Dasun Shanaka(Winning captain)

Our approach was the same, playing with a positive intent but the wicket was better than the other day. The ball was coming on and with the partnerships we had, we knew we would score big today. We didn’t play on such pitches on a regular basis and credit to the groundstaff for such a good pitch, also our top-order fired today. The start was good and hence myself and Hasaranga could finish off the innings. Chameera is bowling with intent and he has the right skill when it comes to white-ball cricket, injury kept him back but you need to have him when fit. (On whether they will be changes for the third ODI) It is up to the selectors and team management, we have to make the right decisions keeping the WC Qualifiers in mind.

Hashmatullah Shahidi (Losing Captain)

I think the main point was our fielding and the last 10 overs with the ball. Sometimes such games happen, everyone tried hard but we were not up to the mark. The batting line-up is improving day by day and come back stronger in the next game. The pitch was not very difficult in the second innings but the 30 extra runs that Sri Lanka made put us under pressure. Yes, he (Rashid Khan) will be available for the next game.

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