SL vs AFG scorecard, 1st ODI highlights: Pathum Nissanka shines in Sri Lanka's win; Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai's heroics in vain

It was a Pathum Nissanka show in Pallekele between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan as the hosts registered a 42-run win over the Afghani team. Nissanka smashed a brilliant double-century while batting first in Pallekele, and played an innings of 210 runs from 139 balls. Nissanka hit a total of 20 fours and 8 sixes during his stay at the crease and batted with a strike rate of 151.07.

Sri Lanka were off to a commanding start as the openers added 182 runs for the first wicket. Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando gave a blistering start to their team and smashed the Afghanistan bowlers to all parts of the ground. While Fernando smashed a brilliant double century and Fernando played an innings of 88 runs from 88 balls. Fernando smashed a total of eight fours and 3 sixes during his stay at the crease.

Pathum Nissanka shines for Sri Lanka against Afghanistan

🇱🇰 History made! 🇱🇰

Pathum Nissanka rewrites the record books with a phenomenal 210*, the highest ODI score ever by a Sri Lankan batsman! This innings surpasses the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya’s 24-year-old record of 189, set in 2000.#SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/dJMghNxXTY

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 9, 2024

After the departure of Avishka Fernando, captain Kusal Mendis was not able to do much and was dismissed for 16 runs from 31 balls. On the other hand, Pathum Nissanka continued to play shots from the other end. Sadeera Samarawickrama gave brilliant support to Nissanka and put up a stand of 120 runs from 71 balls for the third wicket. Samarawickrama played an innings of 45 runs from 36 balls.

Sri Lanka post a mammoth 381/3 total against Afghanistan as Pathum Nissanka remains unbeaten on a record-breaking 210*! 👊

This is the highest total ever recorded in ODIs at Pallekele. ️

Live Scorecard 📝: https://t.co/z8HCHdOX6P
Watch 👀: https://t.co/CKfwszsd8V

#SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/83cY3geCVw

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 9, 2024

In the end, Pathum Nissanka stayed at the crease till the last over and helped Sri Lanka put up a score of 381 runs. Nissanka also became the third fastest batsman to slam a double hundred, whereas he also became the highest individual run scorer for Sri Lanka in the ODI format. Nissanka went passed Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya.

Fareed Ahmad picked up 2 wickets for Afghanistan whereas Mohammad Nabi ended up with 1 wicket.

Chasing down the target, Afghanistan got off to a poor start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the first one to depart for the Afghani team and was dismissed for 1 run. Ibrahim Zadran was the second batsman to depart for 4 runs and fell against Sri Lankan pacer Pramod Madushan. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi were also not able to do much with the bat and walked back after scoring 7 runs respectively.

After losing five quick wickets, Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai tried to script history for Afghanistan and added 242 runs from 222 balls for the 6th wicket. Both the batsmen scored smashing hundreds and hit all the Sri Lankan bowlers to all the parts of the ground.

Mohammad Nabi played an innings of 136 runs from 130 balls whereas Azmatullah Omarzai was unbeaten on 149 runs from 115 balls. However, in the end, Afghanistan were not able to cross the finish line and ended up on the losing end.

Pramod Madushan picked up 4 wickets for Sri Lanka with the ball whereas, Dushmantha Chameera ended up taking 2 wickets.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka: 381/3 (Pathum Nissanka: 210*, Fareed Ahmad: 2/79)

Afghanistan: 339/6 (Azmatullah Omarzai: 149*, Pramod Madushan: 4/75)