SL vs AFG, 1st ODI: Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets for only 3rd time in history

Afghanistan came up with an impressive show in the first of a 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Hambantota on Friday, June 2 as they defeated the hosts by 6 runs. Riding on a solid run-a-ball 98 from opening batter Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan chased down a 269-run target in just 46.5 overs to register a convincing win in the ODI series.

Sri Lanka did not have three of their biggest match-winners in Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushamantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana but the hosts will look back at the first ODI with a lot of disappointment. Barring Charith Asanaka, who hit 91, and Dhananjaya de Silva, who hit 58,

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to field on an overcast morning and on a lively pitch and Fazalhaq Farooqi made an immediate impact, getting the big wicket of comeback man Dimuth Karunaratne in the 3rd over.

He sent back Kusal Mendis for 11 as Pathum Nissanka, who hit 38, was not able to be fluent at the



top.

Senior batter Angelo Matthews also fell early (12 off 21) before Mujeeb Ur Rahman dented Sri Lanka further by getting Nissanka in the 20th over for 38.

Sri Lanka were reeling at 84 for 4 when Charith Asalanka and Dhanajaya de Silva joined hands. The two added 99-runs for the 5th wicket with Dhananjaya dominating the partnership with a 59-ball 51. However, he fell in the 38th over, missing a straight delivery from Mohammad Nabi.

Sri Lanka did not get any big partnership after the dismissal of Dhananjaya as captain Dasun Shanka fell for 17, getting out to his Gujarat TItans teammate Noor Ahmad, who played ahead of Rashid Khan, who was ruled out of the first two ODIS due to a back injury in training.

However, Asalanka carried on and made 91 before getting run-out in the final over and missing a well-deserved century.

269 was not enough for Sri Lanka even as Lahiru Kumara got the big wicket of Rahmanullah Guirbaz early in the 6th over.