Two time winners of the Emerging Teams Asia Cup cricket tournament Sri Lanka fell like nine pins as they attempted to chase down a getable target of 253 made by Afghanistan A in their 50-over match at the CCC ground in Colombo yesterday.
One man in the Afghanistan team, Mohammad Ibrahim, made the difference in victory and defeat as he plucked the first Sri Lankan wicket that of opener Aviska Fernando for a first-ball duck, trapped leg-before, and followed it up with three more scalps to leave the home team tottering at 31 for 4 inside five overs.
His wickets also included Lasith Croospulle (7), Pasindu Sooriyabandara (0) and Sahan Arachchige (3) in a devastating start by Afghanistan in defending their total that was boosted by a top score of 82 by opener Riaz Hassan.
Sri Lanka A had one man who could have made the difference in the home team’s camp in Minod Bhanuka but when he fell for 119, the ninth out with the total at 229 the writing was on the wall.
Bhanuka, a discard since playing his last ODI in September 2021, clouted 17 fours and a six and made his 119 off just 103 balls re-living his regained prowess.
But the question that the Sri Lanka A team will have to answer for is why they could not phase out their innings with the entire side all out for 241 in 38.5 overs.
Scores:
Afghanistan A 252 for 9 in 50 overs
(Riaz Hassan 82, Noor Ali Zadran 53, Chamika Karunaratne 3 for 56)
Sri Lanka A 241 in 38.5 overs
(Minod Bhanuka 119, Dunith Wellalage 21, Dushan Hemantha 31, Mohammad Ibrahim 4 for 52)