Sport

Afghanistan strike three times in morning session despite Karunaratne’s 77

Published

11 months ago

February 3, 2024

Afghanistan removed Sri Lanka's top three before lunch, their seamers in particular finding tighter lines and better lengths on the second morning. But the hosts still marched towards a substantial first-innings lead, on a track that seemed settled after the first hour. Sri Lanka now sit 21 runs behind, with seven of their wickets in tact.

Still, the dismissal of Dimuth Karunaratne in particular will buoy Afghanistan. Karunaratne had sped to 77 at easily better than a run a ball when he essentially gave his wicket away, coming down the track to turn a Qais Ahmad ball into a full toss, which he promptly flicked to short midwicket. There was little spin for Qais, who largely bowled flat and fast, in Afghanistan's attempts to slow the scoring rate, ESPNcricinfo.com reported.

Karunaratne had looked dangerous before that, his leg-side game humming, and Afghanistan somewhat at a loss as to how to slow his rate of scoring down. He had begun the day on 42 off 37 balls, and resumed scoring briskly, hitting two fours off the first seven balls he faced to bring up a 35th Test fifty. He struck three further boundaries before he was out trying to hit another one.

The other wickets to fall were to seam bowling. Naveed Zadran set a leg slip first ball he bowled to Nishan Madushka on Saturday, and had him glancing a ball off his hip, straight to the fielder. He had added only one to his overnight score.

Kusal Mendis started carefully against disciplined seam bowling from both Zadran and Nijat Masood, making only five off his first 16 deliveries. But eventually he lost his patience. Masood bowled an excellent bouncer, with the trap set in the deep. Mendis took the bait, and top edged one to fine leg, where Zia-ur-Rehman settled under it comfortably.

Mendis was out for 10, and Masood had reward for his tight bowling on the first evening, and in this session. That over would go on to be a wicket-maiden.

Angelo Mathews batted sensibly for 51 balls before the break, scoring 29 and scoring four boundaries, largely off the bad balls. Dinesh Chandimal was with him at lunch, having made 15 off 25.

Related Topics:#َAfghanistan #SriLanka Cricket featured Test

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Afghanistan clinches ODI series victory against Zimbabwe

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Ariana News

Afghanistan's national cricket team triumphed over Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to claim the series victory.

In a dominant bowling display, Afghanistan dismissed Zimbabwe for just 127 runs in 30.1 overs. The Afghan batsmen then chased down the target comfortably in 26.5 overs, losing only 2 wickets along the way.

The standout performer of the match was Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, who took a remarkable 5 wickets, while Rashid Khan supported with 3 wickets. Azmatullah Omarzai and Farid Ahmad each claimed 1 wicket.

The first match of the series was abandoned due to rain, but Afghanistan bounced back strongly in the second match, securing a commanding 232-run victory.

This series win follows Afghanistan's earlier success in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, further cementing their dominance in international cricket.

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Bangla Tigers lift Lanka T10 Super League title

Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ariana News

Hambantota Bangla Tigers beat favorites Jaffna Titans by 26 runs in Thursday’s Lanka T10 Super League final at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.

The Tigers produced a fine all-round performance to beat the Titans, who had won all their matches in the lead up to the final.

Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Hambantota Bangla Tigers, put into bat first, posted 133 for seven from their allotted 10 overs through some useful contributions from their top order batsmen.

The openers Mohammad Shahzad and Kusal Perera added 35 runs from 2.4 overs before they suffered a middle order collapse and reached 59 for three at the halfway stage of the innings.

However, skipper Dasun Shanaka and Shevon Daniel revived the innings with a fourth-wicket partnership of 44 runs in three overs.

Shanaka made 21 with two sixes and two boundaries while Daniel struck 26 with one six and three boundaries before Kennar Lewis and Dhananjaya Lakshan added the finishing touches.

Chasing 133 runs for victory, Jaffna Titans lost wickets at regular intervals and they eventually finished at 107 for six despite a fighting unbeaten half century from middle order batsman Tom Abell.
Richard Gleeson wrecked the Hambantota Bangla Tigers’ innings with excellent figures of three wickets for 21 while Shanaka captured two wickets for four runs.