Cricket News
WATCH: Sadeera Samarawickrama plucks outstanding catch to stun Rahmat Shah
Sri Lanka assumed total control of their only Test vs Afghanistan which started on Friday. Rahmat Shah was the top scorer for the visitors as he scored 91 out of a total of 198. Vishwa Fernando picked four wickets, while Ashita Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya picked three wickets.
The moment in the match came when Sadeera Samarawickrama made an outstanding catch. Veteran batter Rahmat Shah was batting on 91 when he tried to play a paddle sweep. Young Samarawickrama showed amazing reflexes to move down in time and take the catch.
WHAT AN EFFORT, SAMARAWICKRAMA 🤯🔥pic.twitter.com/hR0UiZeYIN
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 2, 2024
At the end of the day, Sri Lanka scored 80 runs for no loss from 14 overs. Their openers showed great temperament to put the visitor’s bowlers under pressure. Team Sri Lanka is at the bottom of the WTC table having lost both their matches.
Sri Lankan bowlers show their class against hapless Afghans –
Dhanajaya De Silva won the toss and decided that Sri Lanka would bowl first. Ibrahim Zadran was out in the very second ball of the game for a duck. Asitha Fernando had the opener out LBW to give the home team a great start.
Noor Ali Zadran and Rahmat Shah then combined forces to add 57 for the 2nd wicket. Both players were looking at ease as the runs began to flow. Batting on 31 Noor Ali Zadran looked good for a big score but Vishwa Fernando ended the knock. The left-arm pacer took a smart catch to dismiss Noor Ali for 31 off 46 balls.
Skipper Hasmatullah Shahid was out for 17 when he gave Vishwa Fernando his 2nd wicket. Nasir Jamal was out for a duck to put Prabath Jayasuriya in the wicket-takers list. Ikram Alikhil and Qais Ahmed scored 21 each but the Lankan bowlers were just too good.
The top scorer for Afghanistan was Rahmat Shah who scored 91 from 139 balls with 13 fours. It took Sri Lanka just 62.4 overs to bundle out the visitors for a paltry score of 198 on the first day.
In reply, Dimuth Karunaratne got off to a blazing start along with Nishan Madushan. The veteran opener was not out on 42 off 37 balls with 7 fours. Young right-handed batter Nishan Madushan was not out on 36 as the stumps were drawn.
