Abu Dhabi: In a captivating contest of cricketing prowess at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka A skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama delivered a match-winning performance with an unbeaten 129 runs, leading his team to victory against Afghanistan A. The encounter was highlighted by a duel of centuries between the two captains, with Afghanistan A’s Darwish Rasooli contributing an explosive 155 in a high-scoring affair.

According to Sri Lanka Cricket, Sri Lanka A chased down Afghanistan A’s target of 248 in 41.3 overs, reaching 249 for 4. This triumph was orchestrated through a crucial third-wicket partnership between Samarawickrama and Lahiru Udara, who scored 83 off 81 balls. The duo’s 163-run stand was instrumental in overcoming an early setback of 2 for 2.

Afghanistan A’s innings was defined by Rasooli’s remarkable century, which came after a dramatic start where the team was reduced to 3 for 4. Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka and Mohamed Shiraz were effective with the ball, with Madushanka taking 4 for 37 an
d Shiraz claiming 2 for 43. However, Rasooli’s effort was largely unsupported by his fellow batsmen, which proved crucial in the eventual outcome.

The Sri Lankan innings saw Samarawickrama leading from the front, striking 16 boundaries and 2 sixes, while Udara’s supportive innings featured 12 boundaries. Despite Afghanistan’s Khalil Ahmed taking 2 wickets for 51 runs, the Sri Lankan pair’s effort ensured a comfortable victory.

Chief scores from the match included Afghanistan A’s 248/8 in 50 overs, with Rasooli’s 155 being the standout performance, supported by Ijaz Ahmad’s 35 and Ikram Alikhil’s 32. For Sri Lanka A, Samarawickrama’s 129 and Udara’s 81 were the highlights in their successful chase.