SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
COLOMBO : In a significant encounter for both rising teams, Afghanistan elected to put Sri Lanka into bat in their crucial sixth ICC World Cup match at Pune. This clash determines the battle for the fifth-place spot, a match loaded with the potential to secure two crucial points on Monday.
Both teams enter the contest on the back of recent victories, emphasizing the magnitude of today’s win. Securing fifth place remains pivotal for their chances to advance to the playoff stage. Notably, Afghanistan gained momentum in their last match by defeating the strong team of Pakistan.
Sri Lanka, having triumphed over former World Champions England in their previous game, made strategic changes for today’s faceoff. They rested struggling opener Kusal Perera and welcomed Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne back into the lineup, alongside the return of Dushmantha Chameera, strengthening the bowling attack.
Expressing his perspective after being invited to bat first, Sri Lanka’s captain, Kusal Mendis, highlighted the favorable pitch conditions, expressing hopes for a strong start and intending to capitalize on the batting advantage before bowling under the evening lights.
Mendis stated, “We’ve performed well across all aspects—batting, bowling, and fielding in our recent matches. We aim to maintain this rhythm and secure a win today.”
Acknowledging Chameera’s inclusion due to Lahiru Kumara’s injury, Mendis expressed confidence, saying, “Chameera is one of the best fast bowlers in Sri Lanka, and I trust he’ll deliver in today’s match.”
Regarding the changes in the team, Mendis emphasized his confidence in Dimuth Karunaratne’s capabilities, stating, “Karunaratne’s inclusion is based on his strong performances in the Qualifiers and his form in practice sessions.”
Afghanistan’s leading spinner, Rashid Khan, is playing his 100th One Day International match today, posing a significant threat to the Sri Lankan batters. Afghanistan’s dangerous opening pair further strengthens their offensive stance.
Winning the toss, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, disclosed the decision to bowl first, factoring in the dew expected later in the evening. Shahidi expressed comfort in their recent positive cricket and aimed to harness that confidence for this crucial game.
Shahidi underlined their immediate focus, stating, “We’re concentrating on today’s game and aiming to play good cricket. Our goal is to progress to the upcoming matches following our performance here.”
Sri Lanka Playing XI: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis’ (c & wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Dilshan Madushanka.
Afganistan Playing XI: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Azmatullah Omarazai, 6 Ikram Alikhil, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZ), Richard Illingworth (ENG)
TV Umpire: Alex Wharf (ENG)
Reserve Umpire: Marais Erasmus (SA).
Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
