02/06Result
1st ODI, Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka at Hambantota, Jun 2 2023
Afghanistan won by 6 wkts (19b rem)
Player of the Match
Ibrahim Zadran
Ibrahim ZadranAfghanistan
02/06Result
1st ODI, Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka at Hambantota, Jun 2 2023
Afghanistan won by 6 wkts (19b rem)
Player of the Match
Ibrahim Zadran
Ibrahim ZadranAfghanistan

And that brings an end to our coverage. Tomorrow's a day off, but then we're back on Sunday for game two. Be sure to join us for that, but until then keep an eye out for Fidel's match report an analysis of today's game. Until then, on behalf of Shashwat, it's Madushka saying goodbye!

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi: First of all I'm very happy about the performance of the team. I felt our recovery in the last overs was very good with the ball. Ibrahim Zadran is a match winner, and improving match by match, I want him to improve in the future as well."

Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka: "I think the plan was to play positive cricket, but four early wickets meant the top order didn't fire. It was a wicket where we could have set 300-plus. I think we could have also bowled better. Lahiru Kumara's injury also didn't help. For Pathirana coming straight from the IPL is not easy, especially to play a 50 over game. But this is the perfect game for him, so we will continue with him definitely. We need to win, but mainly we need to get ready for the qualifiers. We'll change the bowlers, but the batting line-up will stay the same."

Ibrahim Zadran is the Player of the Match for his 98 off 98, inclusive of 11 fours and 2 sixes: "It's really hard to get out like that [short of a hundred], but it's part of the game. To be honest, our bowlers bowled very well and executed the plans according to the conditions. They kept them below 300. 268 was a good score, but not that much. We wanted to get them around 250, but Rahmat Shah and I wanted to finish the game. I was middling the ball so well, so I told Rahmat I didn't want to stop my runs. I told him not to play any extra shots, play simple and rotate the strike."

Time now for the presentation ceremony...

6.20pm A comprehensive win for Afghanistan then, as they take a 1-0 lead in this three-match series! It was a victory setup by a classy run-a-ball 98 from Ibrahim Zadran, who was unfortunate to miss out on yet another ODI century. His 146-run second wicket stand with Rahmat Shah broke the chase open, and by the time he fell at the end of the 30th over, the required rate was at a very manageable five an over. Sri Lanka's bowlers toiled, but rarely managed to put pressure on the Afghan batters. In the field too Afghanistan showed discipline, and only really looked under the pump when Charith Asalanka (91) and Dhananjaya de Silva (51) were going strong. 268 was a challenging total, but Sri Lanka will know they missed an opportunity to put up an imposing one, losing wickets at crucial junctures. Game two is on Sunday, and the hosts have their work cut out for them.

46.5
1
Pathirana to Najibullah Zadran, 1 run, Short and wide, and cut to deep point for the winning single! Afghanistan win by 6 wickets!
46.4
4
Pathirana to Najibullah Zadran, FOUR, short, wide and put away! Cuts this high over backward point. Deep point puts in a dive but can't haul it in. Scores are level.
46.3
1
Pathirana to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, full on off, driven square to deep point for one

Afghanistan now just one hit away

46.2
4
Pathirana to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, Edged and four more! This was a good length outside off and induces the edge as Nabi looks to drive this. Third man can't get to it in time.
46.1
1
Pathirana to Najibullah Zadran, 1 run, full outside off, pushed towards cover for a quick single

END OF OVER:
46 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | AFG: 258/4 (11 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 5.60, RRR: 2.75)

  • Mohammad Nabi22 (26b)
  • Najibullah Zadran1 (3b)
  • Kasun Rajitha10-0-49-2
  • Dhananjaya de Silva10-0-44-0
45.6
4
Rajitha to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, Up and over, and four! This was short and wide, and Nabi hops up and carves this high over backward point, one bounce over the ropes. Third man is too fine to get there.
45.5
0
Rajitha to Mohammad Nabi, no run, short and Nabi is beaten for pace on this attempted pull. Gets hit on the front of the helmet via the grill

Gorsi: "Am i the only one expecting a collapse from Afg from hereon?" I'm gonna go with yes, Gorsi.

45.4
1
Rajitha to Najibullah Zadran, 1 run, good length on off, push and run towards cover
45.3
0
Rajitha to Najibullah Zadran, no run, short and angling away, left alone by Najibullah
45.2
0
Rajitha to Najibullah Zadran, no run, good length outside off, back foot drive straight to extra cover
45.1
W
Rajitha to Hashmatullah Shahidi, OUT, Edged and gone! Shahidi must go after a strange passage of play. This was short of a length outside off, and Shahidi slashes at it. There's a noise as it goes through to the keeper, who doesn't appeal. While Rajitha too follows through without much celebration. There's vociferous appeal from a few surrounding fielders, and then eventually Rajitha turns back and appeals. At which point the umpire raises the finger.

Hashmatullah Shahidi c †Mendis b Rajitha 38 (64m 47b 4x4 0x6) SR: 80.85

Qazi : "Good to see the temperament Factor with Trott there!"

END OF OVER:
45 | 7 Runs | AFG: 253/3 (16 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 5.62, RRR: 3.20)

  • Mohammad Nabi18 (24b)
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi38 (46b)
  • Dhananjaya de Silva10-0-44-0
  • Kasun Rajitha9-0-44-1
44.6
0
de Silva to Mohammad Nabi, no run, full toss on leg, but Nabi had made room to go inside out. Only manages to drive this straight back at DDS

over the wicket

44.5
1
de Silva to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 1 run, fuller on the stumps, driven down to long-on for one
44.4
2
de Silva to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 2 runs, length on the stumps, gets across and works this towards deep square leg. They do well to collect two here

Around the wicket

Amin: "will not be surprised to see this Afghanistan team in semis of worldcup."

44.3
1
de Silva to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, pushed through full on the pads, tucked onside for one

over the wicket

44.2
1lb
de Silva to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 1 leg bye, length ball down leg, 76kph, glanced fine for one as short fine gathers

Afser: "Pathirana is really good with the old ball and it shows. Hope he keeps learning and captain utilize him properly "

44.1
2
de Silva to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 2 runs, tossed up on the stumps, reverse swept towards point, who collects and has a wild shy that allows for overthrows

around the wicket

END OF OVER:
44 | 1 Run | AFG: 246/3 (23 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 5.59, RRR: 3.83)

  • Mohammad Nabi17 (22b)
  • Hashmatullah Shahidi33 (42b)
  • Kasun Rajitha9-0-44-1
  • Dhananjaya de Silva9-0-38-0
43.6
0
Rajitha to Mohammad Nabi, no run, full on off, 132kph, pushed towards point. Thinks about the single but is sent back by his partner is Nabi
43.5
0
Rajitha to Mohammad Nabi, no run, short, pace-off at 126kph, pulled straight at midwicket
43.4
1
Rajitha to Hashmatullah Shahidi, 1 run, good length on off, goes back and across and pushes this towards cover for a quick single
43.3
0
Rajitha to Hashmatullah Shahidi, no run, good length on off, defended from within the crease

Afghanistan in Sri Lanka 2023 News

Afghanistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st25Ibrahim ZadranRahmanullah Gurbaz
2nd146Rahmat ShahIbrahim Zadran
3rd40Hashmatullah ShahidiRahmat Shah
4th42Mohammad NabiHashmatullah Shahidi
5th16Mohammad NabiNajibullah Zadran