Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI – Afghanistan Sets Fighting total of 266 in the 3rd ODI Against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI – In the ongoing series between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, the stage was set for an intense battle as Afghanistan posted a challenging total of 266 runs in the third One Day International (ODI) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI – Afghanistan’s Innings

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Afghanistan got off to a steady start with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran at the crease. Gurbaz looked in fine touch, scoring 48 runs off 57 balls before being dismissed by Dananjaya. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Afghanistan managed to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Rahmat Shah played a crucial knock, anchoring the innings with a well-compiled 65 runs off 77 deliveries. However, he fell victim to Dunith Wellalage’s bowling. Azmatullah Omarzai and Ikram Alikhil also made significant contributions, scoring 54 and 32 runs respectively.

Afghanistan’s lower order chipped in with valuable runs, pushing the total past the 250-run mark. Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, and Qais Ahmad played quickfire cameos to boost their team’s score.

Bowling Efforts of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack put up a commendable performance to restrict Afghanistan to a manageable total. Pramod Madushan was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three crucial wickets. Asitha Fernando and Dunith Wellalage provided crucial breakthroughs, picking up two wickets each.

Despite some resistance from the Afghan batsmen, Sri Lanka managed to maintain control over the proceedings with disciplined bowling and tight fielding.

Conclusion

With Afghanistan setting a target of 266 runs, Sri Lanka will now look to chase down the total and secure a victory in the crucial encounter. The stage is set for an enthralling contest as both teams aim to outplay each other and claim victory in the series. Cricket fans can expect an exciting finish as the action unfolds at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

check here – Sri Lanka Vs Afghanistan, 1st T20I – Pitch Report (Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla)