Pathum Nissanka double Hundred Celebration | © X (Twitter)
In a nail-biting match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka secured a fantastic 42-run victory against Afghanistan in the first ODI of the series. The game was a run-fest, with both teams showcasing their skills in an exciting cricket showdown.
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, won the toss and chose to field first. This decision put Sri Lanka in the batting spotlight, and they didn’t disappoint. The home team put up a massive total of 381 for 3 on the scoreboard. The star of the show was Pathum Nissanka, who made an incredible 210 not out. Nissanka’s remarkable innings included an impressive 20 fours and eight sixes from 139 balls. It was his first ODI appearance since the World Cup, and he certainly made it count, setting up a challenging target for Afghanistan.
When it was Afghanistan’s turn to bat, they showed great determination. Azmatullah Omarzai played a stellar innings, scoring an impressive 149* runs off 115 balls. Mohammad Nabi contributed significantly with a solid knock of 136 runs in 130 balls. Despite their spirited effort, Afghanistan fell short of the target.
The hero for Sri Lanka with the ball was Pramod Madushan. His brilliant bowling performance, taking 4 wickets for 75 runs in his ten overs, was crucial in halting Afghanistan’s momentum. Madushan’s timely breakthroughs restricted Afghanistan to 339 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs.
Key highlights of the match include Pathum Nissanka’s sensational innings, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi’s impressive batting display for Afghanistan, and Pramod Madushan’s impactful bowling performance for Sri Lanka.
At last, it was an exhilarating game of cricket where Sri Lanka’s dominant batting and effective bowling secured them a thrilling victory. As the series progresses, cricket fans can anticipate more excitement and competitive action in the upcoming matches. Stay tuned for more updates and the unfolding drama in this ODI series!
