Sri Lanka ‘A’ team led by Nishan Madushka aim to finish the ODI series on a winning note when they meet Afghanistan ‘A’ in their fifth and final ODI scheduled to be played today at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium Hambantota, from 10 am.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ team already won the series 3-1 but they want to finish with a 4-1 lead while Afghanistan ‘A’ team led by Ikram Alikhil won their last game (4th ODI) on Sunday recording a thrilling four wicket win with 2 balls to spare. Riaz Hassan was the match winner getting his second ton of the series while top order batters were in good form to put up a challenge against Sri Lanka bowlers.
In fact Qais Ahmed the experienced spinner was the most successful Afghan spinner while their pace attack was more powerful than spin department and paceman Bilal Sami was most economical bowler but Sri Lanka which relies on spinners come to the final game with additional off spinner Nishan Pieris who was the most successful off spinner at the recently concluded NSL four day tournament.
Nishan Pieris who was named for the Test squad at the last Bangladesh tour as soon as he finished the NSL final reached Hambantota to join Sri Lanka ‘A’ team and he will most probably play today’s game replacing paceman Udith Madushan. However skipper Nishan Madushka, Kamil Mishara, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha have big responsibility to build up the innings.
The wicket keeper Minod Bhanuka who played his first game of the series on Sunday failed with the bat but skipper Nishan Madushka the inform opener who hit century in their last game want to make good start today.
Skipper Nishan Madushka said very unfortunate to lose last game. “I scored a hundred but more important is to win the game Afghan bowlers especially pacemen bowled well at the beginning while we were 20-30 runs short and managed to get 275 runs. However that score was not enough to defend from Afghanistan strong batting line up. They have good fighting qualities and we want to rectify our mistakes to win the final game,” added skipper Madushka.
Riaz Hassan the successful opener having two centuries said they have got good experience during the Sri Lanka ‘A’ ODI series while Hambantota wicket is very good for both bowlers and batsmen and we want to continue our winning momentum and expected to make good challenge against Sri Lanka ‘A’ team.
After this ODI five match series two teams will meet in their only four day game which will commence from May 11 at P. Sara Oval Stadium. Both Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Afghanistan ‘A’ teams are planning to add different players from the ODI squad.The official of the Afghanistan ‘A’ team said 11 players who played ODI series are scheduled to return home after the ODI series while eleven new players will join the balance 4 member squad.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ team also having more changes while few players who performed at the NSL four day tournament will be added to the Sri Lanka ‘A’ four day match squad.
