Afghanistan will take on Sri Lanka in the first of a three-match ODI series at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium tomorrow. The city of Hambantota will host all the three matches with the other two to take place on June 4 and 7.
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Led by their all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan management have recalled Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne into the ODI setup after more than a two-year gap. Alongside the ever-reliable Pathum Nissanka and the two other experienced batters in Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva, Karunaratne’s inclusion is perhaps an indication that the think-tank is eyeing on their most experienced options ahead of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
For those unaware, Sri Lanka have not yet qualified for the showpiece ICC event and will play in the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe later this month.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, have already ensured their direct qualification for the same. Apart from their star all-rounder Rashid Khan, who has been ruled out of the first two ODIs due to injury. the Afghan side will also field a formidable line-up for the ODI series.
Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium Pitch Report for SL vs AFG 1st ODI
Mahindra Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium had previously hosted an ODI more than three years ago in February 2020. The venue had last hosted competitive matches in December 2022 during the Lanka Premier League.
Across the five LPL 2022-23 matches in Hambantota, the average score which teams had posted stood at 145.6 runs. Despite the surface not being a paradise for the batters, they are likely to get off the blocks on a fresh pitch on a Friday morning. The spinners, along expected lines, will come into play later on in the innings to keep a check on the run-flow and provide important breakthroughs.
Across the 21 ODIs here from 2011-2020, the average score posted by teams has been 288 runs with ten scores in excess of the 300-run mark.
All in all, one should expect a more-or-less even contest with both bat and ball tomorrow as the two full-strength sides will take on each other. It will be interesting to see how the Lankan batters will face the possible spin trio of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammed Nabi, and Noor Ahmad.
