Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in match number 30 of the 2023 ODI World Cup at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Monday, October 30. Both teams have four points from five games each, but Sri Lanka are higher on the points table due to a better net run rate. While Sri Lanka are in fifth position, Afghanistan are seventh. Significantly, both teams are coming off crucial wins in their previous matches. Afghanistan created history in Chennai, beating Pakistan for the first time ever in ODIs. And what a thumping win it was, by eight wickets. Sri Lanka crushed England by the same margin in Bengaluru. After bundling them out for 156, they chased the target in 25.4 overs.
Afghanistan would be buoyed by their win over Pakistan but would not look to rest on their laurels. They have tasted some success against Sri Lanka in the past and would look to put the 1996 defending champions under pressure. As for the Lankans, they have registered two wins in a row after losing their first three matches. With the race for the semis spot getting tighter, they would be keen to build on the winning momentum. Here are five player battles to watch for in the Afghanistan-Sri Lanka match.
Pathum Nissanka vs Naveen-ul-Haq
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka has been in wonderful form for the team in the ongoing World Cup. Although he doesn’t have a hundred to show to his credit, he has registered four half-centuries in a row. His scores in Sri Lanka’s last four matches read 51, 61, 54 and 77*. Nissanka would be disappointed not to have converted any of his knocks into big scores. However, he did well to remain unbeaten in the win over England. Nissanka would love to carry on his great form. Can he make it five fifties in a row, or still better, a hundred?
Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has chipped in with decent contributions in the team’s impressive World Cup campaign. He has claimed six wickets in five matches, striking at pertinent times. In the last two games, he has picked up two wickets each. In the win over Pakistan, he got the crucial scalp of Iftikhar Ahmed and added Shadab Khan’s wicket in the end. Can he end Nissanka’s impressive batting streak?
Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Dilshan Madushanka
Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been key to the team’s success at the top of the order. He has scored half-centuries in both of Afghanistan’s crucial wins in the 2023 World Cup. Gurbaz smashed 80 off only 57 balls against England, stunning the defending champions. Against Pakistan, he contributed 65 off 53 balls, striking nine fours and a six and added 130 runs for the opening wicket with Ibrahim Zadran (87 off 113) balls. Gurbaz’s blazing innings allowed Ibrahim to settle in and anchor the chase.
Dilshan Madushanka has been Sri Lanka’s strike bowler in the 2023 World Cup in the absence of some other senior members of the bowling outfit. He has claimed 11 wickets in five matches so far, which includes a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands and an impressive three-for versus Australia. The match against England was the first one in which he went wicketless. Madushanka would want to get back among the wickets. Can he get Gurbaz early?
Sadeera Samarawickrama vs Rashid Khan
The talented Sadeera Samarawickrama has been in impressive form for Sri Lanka in the 2023 World Cup. In fact, he is the team’s leading run-getter in the competition, with 295 runs in five innings at an average of 98.33 and an excellent strike rate of 106.50. He scored a brilliant hundred in a losing cause against Pakistan. Samarawickrama has played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s win in the last two games, registering scores of 91 not out and 65 not out.
In the middle overs, he could be the key to Sri Lanka’s fortunes against Afghanistan. As such, his tussle with star leg-spinner Rashid Khan could be crucial. Rashid has only claimed six wickets in five matches, but three of them came in the historic win over England. He has claimed only one wicket in the last two matches, so the leggie will be keen to make an impact against Sri Lanka. Samarawickrama will be a crucial wicket. Can Rashid knock him over?
Rahmat Shah vs Maheesh Theekshana
Rahmat Shah brought all his experience into play in Afghanistan’s historic triumph over Pakistan, remaining unbeaten on 77 off 84 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. There were question marks over his place in the team after failures in the four preceding games in which he scored 18, 16, 3 and 36. But Rahmat stood up to be counted in the win over Pakistan.
Sri Lankan off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana has had an underwhelming 2023 World Cup campaign so far. He only has three wickets to show for his efforts in four matches. Theekshana claimed one scalp each in the team’s triumphs over the Netherlands and England, respectively. He will be looking to be a lot more effective in the match against Afghanistan. If he gets his eye in, Rahmat can be a thorn in Sri Lanka’s side. Theekshana will try and ensure that does not happen.
Charith Asalanka vs Noor Ahmad
Talented Sri Lankan batter Charith Asalanka began the 2023 World Cup with an attractive 79 in a losing cause against Sri Lanka. He hasn’t been as consistent with his performances since, scoring 1, 25 and 44 in his last three innings. Lanka are well aware of the kind of talent Asalanka has and hence keeps backing him. Can he deliver a power-packed knock against Afghanistan?
Noor Ahmad was the standout bowler for Afghanistan in their triumph over Pakistan. He registered figures of 3/49, getting the scalps of Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan and then Babar Azam as well. Ahmad is one of the most talented left-arm wrist-spinners in the business. He showed his prowess during the IPL as well. Can he dislodge Asalanka early?