Sri Lanka level the series
Sri Lanka registered a comprehensive 132-run win over Afghanistan in the 2nd ODI of the series on Sunday at Hambanthota. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the coin toss and opted to bat first.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start, and Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunarathne made an 82-run partnership for the first wicket until Nissanka was dismissed for 43 runs. 28 runs later, Dimuth Karunarathne got out for 52 runs. After the dismissal of Karunarathne, Sadeera Samarawickrama joined the Kusal Mendis and added 88 runs for the 3rd wicket. Sadeera Samarawickrama made a good comeback for the ODI side and scored 44 runs. After that, Charith Asalanka was dismissed for six runs when the score was 213. 41 runs later, Kusal Mendis was caught behind for 78 runs. At the back end of the innings, Dasun Shanaka smashed 23 runs, while Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga scored 29 runs each. Eventually, Sri Lanka scored 323 runs for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs.
In reply that Afghanistan haven’t had a good start and that they lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 2 runs. However, after an early loss, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah rebuilt the innings and made a 51-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahmat Shah scored 36 runs. After the dismissal of Rahmat, Hashmatullah Shahidi joined Ibrahim Zadran and made 84 runs for the 3rd wicket until Ibrahim Zadran was dismissed for 54 runs. After that, Afghanistan lost the momentum and wickets at regular intervals. Hashmatullah Shahidi was the top scorer with 57 runs, while Azmatullah Omarzai contributed 28 runs. However, Afghanistan bundle out for 191 runs in 42.1 overs. For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga claimed three wickets each.
