Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka 2024
On Friday, Sri Lanka’s opener Pathum Nissanka displayed an extraordinary performance by scoring a remarkable double hundred, leading his team to victory over Afghanistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Nissanka’s exceptional innings played a crucial role in securing a 42-run win for the hosts, enabling them to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
In an impressive display of skill, Nissanka achieved his first-ever double century in Pallekele, accomplishing this feat in just 136 balls.
This remarkable achievement places him among an elite group of players, as he becomes the 10th player in cricket history to achieve such a milestone.
Notably, Nissanka also holds the distinction of being the third-fastest double centurion in this format. By surpassing Sanath Jayasuriya’s previous record of 189 runs, Nissanka has etched his name in Sri Lanka’s cricketing history.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi put Sri Lanka to bat first in the match, resulting in a total of 381 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.
The standout performer was Nissanka, who played a patient innings alongside Avishka Fernando. The opening pair managed to score 182 runs before Fernando was dismissed for a run-a-ball 88.
Nissanka then accelerated his scoring rate and punished the Afghan side, finishing unbeaten at 210 off just 139 balls.
In the second innings, Sri Lanka gained an early advantage thanks to the fast bowlers Pramod Madushan and Dushmantha Chameera. They quickly dismantled the Afghan top order, effectively securing the victory within the first 10 overs of the game.
However, a remarkable 6th wicket partnership between young Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi provided some hope for the Afghan team.
The pair, with one nearing the end of his professional journey and the other just beginning, combined forces to accumulate a remarkable total of 242 runs.
This outstanding achievement stands as the second highest partnership ever recorded for the 6th wicket in the history of One Day International cricket. Notably, both players achieved personal milestones by scoring centuries, instilling a sense of optimism and possibility for Afghanistan but Sri Lanka bowlers held their nerve to defend the target and emerged victorious by 42 runs.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 381/4 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 210, Avishka Fernando 88; Fareed Ahmad 2-79) beat Afghanistan 339/6 in 50 overs (Azmatullah Omarzai 149, Mohammad Nabi 136; Pramod Madushan 4-75) by 42 runs