SL vs AFG – 2nd ODI Prediction 04 Jun 2023

In the second ODI at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Sri Lanka will be determined to make a comeback and level the three-match series against Afghanistan on Sunday.

• Dasun Shanaka’s team faced a 6-wicket defeat to Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan in the opening ODI at the same venue, and they will be eager to turn the tide in their favour.
• Afghanistan’s top three batsmen, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmat Shah, collectively contributed 167 runs in the previous game, showcasing their strength in the batting department.
• Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, their key bowler Wanindu Hasaranga is sidelined with an injury, which weakens their bowling attack and poses an additional challenge for them in the upcoming match.

SL vs AFG – 2nd ODI – Venue Details

Venue: Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota

Date: June 4th 2023

Time: 10:00 (local)

SL vs AFG – 2nd ODI – Team Previews

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s performance in the opening match was highly disappointing. Their batsmen experienced a series of avoidable dismissals after settling in. Players such as Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and even Angelo Mathews played shots that they would want to erase from memory.

Although a commendable partnership between Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva kept Sri Lanka in the contest, they failed to accelerate towards the end and achieve the target of 300 runs. Despite having a batting lineup with considerable depth on paper, their performance has not lived up to expectations. There is untapped potential in players like Nissanka, Mendis, and Mathews, but their approach seems outdated.

Pathum Nissanka showed promise in the previous game, and Sri Lanka will rely on him to form a substantial partnership with Karunaratne. The absence of Wanindu Hasaranga due to injury has disrupted the balance of their bowling attack, which is a significant setback for the team.

Afghanistan

Hashmatullah Shahidi must be delighted with his team’s exceptional performance in the previous game. Despite being considered the underdogs, they controlled the match right from the beginning. They are now on the brink of making history by securing their first-ever ODI series victory against Sri Lanka. Shahidi will aim to maintain their dominance and expects another impressive display from his players.

Ibrahim Zadran was unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved century and will be eager to provide a positive start alongside Gurbaz. While Gurbaz has been struggling in the 50-over format recently, he remains an exciting batsman. With the reliable Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi to follow, Afghanistan’s batting lineup appears solid, although it may rely heavily on the top order.

Fazalhaq Farooqi and Omarzai showcased their skills with a strong performance in the previous game, and they will seek to pose challenges to Sri Lanka’s struggling batting lineup. With Rashid Khan sidelined due to injury, the responsibility will fall on Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmed to deliver effective bowling spells during the middle overs.

SL vs AFG – 2nd ODI – Probable Playing XI’s

Sri Lanka: P Nissanka, D Karunaratne, K Mendis (wk), A Mathews, Charith Asalanka, De Silva, D Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Lahiru Kumara, K Rajitha, M Pathirana

Afghanistan: R Gurbaz (wk), I Zadran, Rahmat Shah, H Shahidi (Cap), Najibullah Zadran, Mohd Nabi, A Omarzai, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, F Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad

SL vs AFG – 2nd ODI – Pitch Report and Toss Prediction

The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Sri Lanka is anticipated to provide a pitch conducive to batting. While there may be some initial swing available for the seamers, the pitch is expected to remain favorable for batting throughout the duration of the match.

SL vs AFG – 2nd ODI – Win Prediction

Sri Lanka faced a setback in their last game but we expect them to bounce back and level the series.