Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, SL vs AFG 2024, Today Match Prediction 11 February 2024

SL vs AFG Match Prediction & Analysis

Over 720 runs were scored in the first ODI, which is now the highest run aggregate for an ODI hosted in Sri Lanka. However, the match was all about individual performances.

An outstanding marathon batting effort from SL opener Pathum Nissanka, who made 210 from 139 balls and carried his bat through, ensured Afghanistan’s rear-guard middle order effort led by Azmatullah Omarzai (149*) and Mohammed Nabi (136) was not going to be enough. And SL won the first ODI of the series with more than 40 runs to spare.

Afghanistan was down in the doldrums, having lost half their side for a paltry 55 runs, but Omarzai combined with Nabi to show they had the fight in them to claw their way back into any contest. Even though they never looked set to chase the score down at any point in their 242-run partnership, they clearly sent a message across to the Sri Lankan team: they’re here to fight and not just to merely participate in a bilateral ODI series.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

SL

W W W

SL

381/3 in 50.0 7.62

SL vs AFG 2024

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 42 runs 09 Feb 2024

AFG

339/6 in 50.0 6.78

SL

97/2 in 16.4 5.82

ZIM vs SL 2024

Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 8 wickets 11 Jan 2024

ZIM

96/10 in 22.5 4.2

SL

211/8 in 49.0 4.31

ZIM vs SL 2024

Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 2 wickets 08 Jan 2024

ZIM

208/10 in 44.4 4.66

AFG

L

SL

381/3 in 50.0 7.62

SL vs AFG 2024

Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 42 runs 09 Feb 2024

AFG

339/6 in 50.0 6.78

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sri Lanka Preview

Pathum Nissanka’s individual brilliance highlighted a fantastic day with the bat for Sri Lanka on a lovely batting surface. After being asked to bat first, the SL openers were a bit cautious early on, but they decided to cut loose after making sure the pitch had no real demons in it. Avishka Fernando, who made a brilliant run a ball 88, provided Nissanka excellent from the other end to set up a nice base for launching an attack later. And launch he did.

Barring a few overs from Nabi in the middle phase of the game, where the veteran stuck to tight lines and lengths, Nissanka had no trouble facing the Afghanistan bowlers. He was particularly severe on the bowlers at the start and at the death, scoring nearly 120 runs in the final 10 overs.

Sri Lanka’s bowling looked a bit off color, with only Pramod Madhushan and Dushmantha Chameera picking up wickets. Hasaranga, Theekshana completed their quota of overs without any wicket to show for it. And Dilshan Madhushanka, who generally picks a lion’s share of his wickets in the first few overs, went wicketless with his 9 overs costing his team 65 runs.

The SL bowlers fended off an upset win despite an inspired batting effort from the Afghanistan middle order batsmen, but some of them have a bit of soul searching to do.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan.

Sri Lanka Actual Playing XI:

Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanidu Hasaranga, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Asitha Fernando

Afghanistan Preview

Afghanistan bowling was toothless and timid against a star batter on rampage, but their spirited effort with the bat was more than remarkable.

After being reduced to 55 for 5, Afghanistan was staring down the barrel with a heavy defeat in sight, but Omarzai and Nabi had other ideas. Despite losing half their side in the first ten overs, their endeavour to stay in the hunt for most of the chase was there for everyone to see, with youngster Omarzai and veteran Mohd Nabi putting on a historic 242-run sixth wicket stand. They kept strike bowlers Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana at bay, and made sure in-form left arm pacer Dilshan Madhushanka went wicketless in the match.

Even though the Afghanistan batsmen fell short by more than 40 runs, they’d hold their heads high for the heart they showed to put on a counterattacking display while chasing nearly 400 runs. Omarzai was undefeated, just one run shy of 150.

On the bowling front, Afghanistan was very ordinary. They failed to break through with the new ball and let the SL openers gallop to 182 runs before they struck for the first time. Neither did Afghani bowlers build pressure and pick up more wickets nor did they make run scoring difficult for the batsmen with some tight bowling. And they let Sri Lanka finish with a mammoth 381, which was always going to be tough to chase down.

Afghanistan Predicted Playing XI:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik.

Afghanistan Actual Playing XI:

Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Qais Ahmad, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

No rain is forecast for the day, and the conditions are expected to be a little windy with some significant cloud cover during the afternoon. With fourteen 300+ scores, the wickets at Pallekele have been extremely good for batting. Don’t be surprised if another belter of a wicket is served up for the second ODI.

SL vs AFG Pitch Report

The second match of this ODI Series will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka’s 381 in the first ODI here is the highest total ever scored at this venue, beating 363 by South Africa against the home team in 2018.

Toss: To Bowl

Stats suggest that toss hasn’t been a major factor at this venue. But Afghanistan would rue having decided to bowl first in favourable batting conditions that saw Sri Lankan batsmen make merry and plunder 381 runs in the first innings.