Srilanka vs Afghanistan Preview- 3rd ODI

Author: Aashray
06 Jun 2023 20:56:14
single

*SRILANKA VS AFGHANISTAN PREVIEW- 3rd ODI*

*THE BUILD UP:*

Srilanka came up with a strong response, putting up a dominant show in the second ODI to claw their way back into this series. They gave Afghanistan a mighty 132 run beating, levelling the three match affair with a game to go now. Srilanka’s top 4 showed promise coupled with their bowling attack, Hasaranga, Chameera and the slow spin of De Silva broke the back of the Afghans, leaving them pondering over what needs to be worked upon come the third and the final game of this competitive series. 

The pitch that will be used is the same as the first two ODIs, but a possibility of rain hindrance may lead to a cut short game. The side that decides to bowl first is expected to get more favours out of the pitch given the weather gods are likely to interrupt the smooth proceedings. Otherwise, while the spin trio of Afghanistan ruled the rooster in the first ODI, the Lankans were quick to bounce back with their strength in the second. It will be fascinating to see which one of these attacks comes out on top in this much awaited decider of a clash. 

The team that emerges victorious after this series will take in the much needed confidence given this is a World Cup year. A Lanka win should boost their morale to thrash all oppositions in the qualifiers before the major event in India however an Afghanistan win will only go onto prove the rich credentials of this unit in world cricket in recent times. 

*AFGH PROBABLE XI:*

Rahmatullah Gurbaz(wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed, Fareed Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi 

Superstar Rashid Khan, has been out of action ever since the IPL final and looks like we are in for an even greater wait as the injury that he has incurred is expected to last for a longer duration, with him likely to miss out on the third game as well. This is a big blow for Afghanistan given they needed their stars for the decider. 

Rahmatullah Gurbaz has been sent packing in the first powerplay itself, in both the games. The Afghan would hope to turn this around and strike gold in the much anticipated game, lengthening his stay at the crease- proving his experience. 

With clouds howering over and rain predicted, the Afghan seamers could come to the party and wreck damage to this SL lineup. Keep your eyes fixed on FazalHaq Farooqi, who has the ability to swing the ball both ways and keep the batters guessing with the different angles with which he bowls. 

*SL PROBABLE XI:*

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(wk), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dhananjaya Desilva, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha 

I don’t expect SL to make any changes to their XI, specially in their bowling lineup, after the kind of performance they came up with the other day. 

With the conditions expected to favour the pacers, Both Rajitha and Chameera could be lethal and tough to handle. 

SL were bolstered by the return of both Theekshana and Hasaranga in their lineup and with the duo accounting for 4 wickets collectively, Srilanka would feel much more confident ahead of this decider. Hasaranga was responsible for cleaning up the tail of Afghanistan and came good after a disappointing IPL season, the value that he brings to this side is immense and as a premier wicket taker, his contributions will be key again. 

Super excited to watch Kusal Mendis go about his business. He has the perfect gameplay to come clutch in this format of the game and has shown innumerable number of times how dangerous he can be in the ODIs. Coming on the back of an impressive 78 off 75 and with a good record at home (nearly 38), Afghanistan need to send him packing early to gain control over this game. 

*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THIS GAME:*

*FOR AFGH:*
Highest run getter- Rahmat Shah/Hashmatullah Shahidi 

Highest wicket taker- Noor Ahmed/Fazalhaq Farooqi 

*FOR SL:*
Highest run getter- Kusal Mendis/Angelo Mathews 

Highest wicket taker- Dushmatha Chameera/Wanindu Hasaranga 

*FOR THE GAME:*
Expect a close contest where SL could emerge victorious.

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 02:05:08 GMT
With Hardik Pandya losing the India vice-captaincy, and set to lead T20I captain Suryakumar Kumar at the IPL, could it make for a strained relationship? Not at all, says Suryakumar
Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:51:00 GMT
The two teams are in transition, but there's plenty of firepower in both sides for what should be a high-scoring series
Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:15:41 GMT
It will be Kohli's first appearance in the Ranji Trophy in 12 years
Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:19:30 GMT
India's newly appointed T20I vice-captain has suggested that only the openers' roles will be fixed
Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:36:43 GMT
England take on T20 World Cup champions in five-match series to start new coach's tenure
Tue, 21 Jan 2025 14:05:01 GMT
The quick was spotted with some protection on his knee but nearly hit full tilt towards the end of his training session
Sun, 19 Jan 2025 16:08:15 GMT
The ten-point policy document was sent out to associations that will be hosting India-England games, PTI reported; the first T20I is in Kolkata, where India began training on Sunday
Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:21:09 GMT
Sri Lanka began with a huge win against Malaysia before India brushed West Indies aside in the evening game
Sat, 18 Jan 2025 17:22:55 GMT
He has been picked in India's Champions Trophy squad, subject to fitness
Sat, 18 Jan 2025 17:22:06 GMT
Mohammed Siraj has lost his place to Arshdeep Singh in India's 15-man squad
Sat, 18 Jan 2025 17:20:52 GMT
Rohit heard telling chief selector Agarkar that his team-mates had expressed concerns over some of the guidelines, including the travel restrictions on families
Sat, 18 Jan 2025 16:51:35 GMT
Dhruv Shorey's run-a-ball hundred in vain for Vidarbha
Sat, 18 Jan 2025 11:41:20 GMT
The next round is from January 23, and will also see Pant, Jadeja and Gill in action
Sat, 18 Jan 2025 04:08:20 GMT
India are going to announce their 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy on Saturday
Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:21:32 GMT
The BCCI announced he will sit in as captain on the press conference scheduled for January 18, when the two squads will be named
Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:22:22 GMT
The guidelines come with a warning that "non-compliance" could result not just in disciplinary action, but heavier sanctions including exclusion from domestic cricket and IPL
Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:59:46 GMT
Bengaluru and Lucknow are the other two venues for the five-team tournament
Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:04:01 GMT
Kotak has been head coach of several India A tours, and served as assistant coach to Laxman during the Ireland T20Is, and has been a batting coach at the NCA since 2019
Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:03:57 GMT
This is a chance for Test regulars to find form or hopefuls to stake claim for selection
Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:10:39 GMT
"She can accelerate as well as play the defensive role, which is great as a batter to have"
Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:21:05 GMT
The new protocols will also mandate that all players travel in the team bus to and from practice and matches
Tue, 14 Jan 2025 11:03:25 GMT
Rohit, who might not be in the mix for the Ranji Trophy, has had a poor run of form over the last many months in Test cricket
Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:43:48 GMT
After being dropped from the national side last November, she has been piling on the runs in the domestic circuit
Tue, 14 Jan 2025 07:27:05 GMT
Shubman Gill has come in for sharp scrutiny following poor returns at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia
Mon, 13 Jan 2025 03:47:51 GMT
Eden Gardens will host the IPL opener as well as the final, on May 25
Sun, 12 Jan 2025 16:18:32 GMT
India batter says she is glad to end long wait for maiden international hundred
Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:15:24 GMT
Jadhav, who had also registered for the WPL auction but went unsold, is one of the standbys for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup
Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:39:03 GMT
Four players from the Test squad in Australia have rejoined the T20I squad
Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:37:26 GMT
Maharashtra's 19-year-old allrounder scored a match-winning hundred on his List A debut
Sat, 11 Jan 2025 12:52:08 GMT
Rookie left-arm seamer Abhilash Shetty defended 13 in the final over for Karnataka
Fri, 10 Jan 2025 12:58:27 GMT
The pair added 116 for the fourth wicket after a brief wobble to secure a comfortable win for India in Rajkot
Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:50:07 GMT
"Fast bowling has been my first love, and though I step off the field, it will always be a part of who I am"
Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:29:34 GMT
They will play their quarterfinal against Gujarat on January 12
Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:06:39 GMT
Rajasthan beat Tamil Nadu by 19 runs in the pre-quarterfinal in Vadodara
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:18:33 GMT
Ponting, meanwhile, suggests Kohli needs time away from the game
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:02:42 GMT
The Tests in Sydney and Cape Town brought with them some record highs
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 06:43:02 GMT
Cricket Australia calls the rating a "step in the right direction" for surfaces at the venue
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 05:38:47 GMT
The former Australia captain believes that with a handful more runs and a fit Bumrah could have taken India to victory at the SCG
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 05:08:11 GMT
KL Rahul has been given time off, while Washington Sundar could play the semi-finals if Tamil Nadu get there
Tue, 07 Jan 2025 08:23:41 GMT
Australia opener hails "the toughest bowler I have ever faced"
Mon, 06 Jan 2025 07:36:49 GMT
Raghvi Bist and Sayali Satghare have been called up for the series
Sun, 05 Jan 2025 15:44:38 GMT
The allrounder, who played three ODIs and one T20I in 2016, led Himachal to their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title in 2021-22
Sun, 05 Jan 2025 12:04:53 GMT
Gambhir makes it clear that he wants Test hopefuls to take domestic cricket seriously, and play the Ranji Trophy if they are not committed elsewhere
Sun, 05 Jan 2025 10:22:56 GMT
Without Bumrah, India's hopes faded away as Australia wrapped up the win within three days
Sun, 05 Jan 2025 10:03:40 GMT
"I've been really impressed with how he's gone about it," Pat Cummins says of newcomer Sam Konstas, who was involved in a couple of scraps in the last two Tests
Sun, 05 Jan 2025 07:34:41 GMT
"They've gained a lot of experience; they'll only go from strength to strength from here," Bumrah says of the newcomers to the Test team
Sun, 05 Jan 2025 10:05:16 GMT
"I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat"
Sat, 04 Jan 2025 18:15:36 GMT
Despite the absence of Bumrah, India snatched a four-run first-innings lead, turning the Test into a second-innings shootout
Sat, 04 Jan 2025 09:40:45 GMT
"There's been no charges laid, but to have an opposition swarm the non-striker like that, we've got a duty of care to our player to make sure he's okay"
Sat, 04 Jan 2025 08:17:11 GMT
"The medical team is monitoring him. So we will know whenever the medical team gets back to us," says Prasidh Krishna when asked if Bumrah will bowl in the final innings
Sat, 04 Jan 2025 14:25:31 GMT
Jasprit Bumrah struck with the last ball of the day after India were bowled out for 185
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 13:38:00 GMT
Nair, who smashed 112, set a new record of 542 runs without being dismissed, going past former New Zealand allrounder James Franklin
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 11:27:53 GMT
After a fighting 98-ball 40, Rishabh Pant looks back at his innings and shares his thoughts on the Rohit Sharma situation
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 11:14:18 GMT
The decision was referred to the TV umpire, who judged that the ball appeared to have touched the ground
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:45:38 GMT
An exchange of words late on day one has added more spark to one of the series' most compelling duels
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:30:03 GMT
"I didn't find it right to be blocking someone's spot," says the 38-year-old Saurashtra stalwart
Fri, 03 Jan 2025 05:12:19 GMT
India's captain was averaging only 6.2 after five innings on this tour of Australia
Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:32:57 GMT
India coach says he had "honest words" with the team after the defeat in Melbourne
Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:05:12 GMT
"We're going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it [the XI] tomorrow," says the coach when asked if India's out-of-form captain will play
Thu, 02 Jan 2025 10:07:27 GMT
Australia will have another debutant in their XI, while India will make at least one change in their bid to draw the series
Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:48:29 GMT
Australia will finish in the top two with a win in the New Year's Test, but a loss will keep India interested while Sri Lanka will be hoping for a draw
Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:12:02 GMT
The leading wicket-taker of the Test series has also bowled the most overs among seamers across both teams
Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:13:36 GMT
The part-time offspinner claimed the wicket of Pant early in the final session and the home side then surged
Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:34:47 GMT
There was no murmur on Snicko, but third umpire Sharfuddoula saw a big deflection on normal replays and made up his mind
Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:15:22 GMT
India's wicketkeeper-batter was out playing high-risk shots at crucial moments in both innings at the MCG
Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:46:11 GMT
India went to tea with strong hopes of drawing the Boxing Day Test, but Cummins and Co kept pegging away to seal a fantastic win at the MCG
Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:05:06 GMT
The total attendance over five days surpassed the previous record of 350,534 set at the MCG in 1937
Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:04:09 GMT
If not the remaining two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests, then Australia's visit to Sri Lanka will decide who meets South Africa at Lord's in June 2025
Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:56 GMT
Australia's lower order extended the lead to 333 after they had slipped to 91 for 6 at one stage
Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:08:52 GMT
India will need to pull off the highest successful chase at the MCG to win the Boxing Day Test
Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:16:37 GMT
Nitish Kumar Reddy happy to have already proven his doubters wrong with the bat, but he wants to fill the allrounder's role better for India
Sat, 28 Dec 2024 11:22:30 GMT
He says Pant should be batting lower than No. 5 if he only plays "these shots"
Sat, 28 Dec 2024 09:16:58 GMT
Reddy shared a 127-run stand with Washington Sundar as India fought back after being 221 for 7
Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:14 GMT
After a six-for with the ball, Deepti scored 39* with the bat with India in choppy waters at that stage
Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:56:55 GMT
After Australia finished on 474, India fought back with a century stand between Jaiswal and Kohli before they lost three wickets late on the second day
Thu, 26 Dec 2024 22:28:24 GMT
Bumrah had a significant say with three wickets although it was Australia who edged the honours with their top four all passing fifty
Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:10:01 GMT
Konstas later brushed the incident aside, but Ricky Ponting said on commentary that Kohli "instigated that confrontation"
Thu, 26 Dec 2024 13:08:56 GMT
Pandey is fresh off her maiden stint at WBBL; she also turned for TKR in the WCPL earlier this year
Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:01:10 GMT
The India batter had made scores of 31, 28 and 1 in his three innings in Adelaide and Brisbane
Wed, 25 Dec 2024 09:20:38 GMT
He equals Ashwin's record of 904 rating points as he consolidates the top spot on the bowler's table
Sun, 12 Jan 2025 10:18:37 GMT
The final has been allocated to Lahore, but will be played in Dubai if India make the title round
Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:15:17 GMT
It's almost the same squad that won the Asia Cup in Malaysia recently
Thu, 26 Dec 2024 05:26:45 GMT
Australia will have all eyes on their new opener Konstas, and India would want more support for their star bowler Bumrah
Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:08:40 GMT
Matthews' knock wasn't enough as West Indies were eventually bowled out for 238 in big chase
Tue, 24 Dec 2024 08:02:52 GMT
The India captain emphasised that the team management doesn't want to tamper with the batters' mindsets
Tue, 24 Dec 2024 06:17:21 GMT
Mumbai allrounder was part of the India A tour to Australia before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy began
Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:52:26 GMT
Tanusree Sarkar led the way for Bengal with 113 off 83 balls, while Priyanka Bala, Dhara Gujjar and Sasthi Mondal scored half-centuries
Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:29:05 GMT
His left knee has minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload
Mon, 23 Dec 2024 07:57:07 GMT
The hosts dominated from start to finish despite not batting to full potential, winning by 211 runs
Sun, 22 Dec 2024 20:24:25 GMT
Pakistan will kick off the tournament against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19
Sun, 22 Dec 2024 08:32:56 GMT
Rohit was struck on the knee while attempting to play a pull shot and had to be attended by the physio
Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:05:01 GMT
It was the second-biggest successful chase in Vijay Hazare Trophy history
Sat, 21 Dec 2024 11:18:22 GMT
Only Jake Fraser-McGurk and AB de Villiers have scored faster List A centuries
Sat, 21 Dec 2024 03:48:31 GMT
Pakistan will not travel to India for the remaining ICC tournaments in the ongoing events cycle
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:23:18 GMT
India posted 217 for 3, their highest-ever T20I total, in their first bilateral T20I series win at home since 2019
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 09:59:29 GMT
"I don't think Ashwin the cricketer is done, I think only Ashwin the Indian cricketer called time."
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:24:24 GMT
Ashwin played only one of the first three Tests of the ongoing series in Australia, taking 1 for 53 in the day-night fixture in Adelaide
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:14:55 GMT
India captain takes heart from India having put the pressure back on Australia late in the Gabba Test, despite having fallen behind earlier
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:13:18 GMT
India captain says "it's high time somebody from NCA talks about him, where he is rehabbing"
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 06:33:17 GMT
Australia and India conjured up the most intriguing of what-ifs in the 22 overs that were possible on the fifth day
Top