By Srian Obeyesekere
Pasindu Sooriyabandara stroked a match winning unbeaten unbeaten 84 in 109 balls as Sri Lanka ‘ A ‘ swept to its third straight win over Afghanistan ‘A’ in the 5-match ODI series yesterday at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
Sooriyabandara, the former Royal College star, rounded it off striking the winning boundary making his maiden appearance in the series.
Afghanistan ‘A’ taking first lease, totaled185 in 41.2 overs to which the hosts replied with 186 for 6 wickets in 37.3 overs with skipper Nishan Madushka making 20
Sri Lanka A paceman Mohamed Shiraz produced a superb performance claiming 3 wickets for 31 runs in decimating Afghanistan early in the innings.
Muhammad Saleem was Afghanistan’s most successful bowler claiming 3 for 32.
CHIEF SCORES:
Afghanistan ‘ A ‘ 185 (41.2 Overs)
(Zia -ur- Rehman 36, Darwish Rasool 25, Shahidullah 23, Zubaid Akbari 16, Bilal Ahmed 14, Mohammed Saleem 13, Mohamed Shiraz 3/31, Sonal Dinusha 2/29, Dushan Hementha 2/29, Chamindu Wijesinghe 1/20, Kamil Mishara 1/6)
Sri Lanka ‘ A ‘ 186/6 (37.3 Overs)
(Pasindu Sooriyabandara n.o. 84, Sonal Dinusha 35, Nishan Madushka 20, Bilal Sami 2/43, Pavan Ratnayake 13, Mohammed Saleem 3/32, Zia -ur- Rehman 1/42)