ACC Emerging Asia Cup 2023, SL-A vs AFG-A | Preview, Pitch Report, Probable XIs, Fantasy Tips & Prediction
The trophy for the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 (Source: Twitter)
Afghanistan A to face hosts Sri Lanka A in match number six of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023. The 50-overs contest marks the second fixture for both sides this tournament and the fourth Group A battle of the competition.
Team Preview
Sri Lanka A
Sri Lanka A registered a thumping win over their Bangladeshi counterparts in the opening match of the tournament. On the back of Avishka Fernando’s scintillating century, the hosts piled up 349 upfront and then restricted Bangladesh A within 48 runs of their total.
Before the ongoing emerging competition, Sri Lanka A lost a three-match series against South Africa A last month. Earlier this year, they did manage to defeat England Lions, also at home, by a 2-1 margin in a three-match 50-overs tussle.
Afghanistan A
Afghanistan A also won their opening fixture, plummeting Oman A by 72 runs in a 49-overs game. In a rare display of exemplary all-round effort, each of their top-order batters got runs, and almost all utilised bowlers found themselves amongst the wickets.
Their big win over Oman also places the Afghanistan A team at the top of the Group A points table, as they hold a slightly superior net run rate in comparison to hosts Sri Lanka.
Match Details
Date and Time: July 15, 10:00 AM IST
Venue: Colombo Cricket Club Ground, Colombo
Live Streaming and Broadcast: FanCode (No live telecast)
Pitch Report
The conditions at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground generally favour spinners, with something on offer for the batters once they settle in. In the first match played at the venue this tournament, Afghanistan A scored 267 upon batting upfront, which turned out to be a match-winning total. As per the ground’s ODI stats, the teams batting first have a better chance of winning a game.
Probable Playing XIs
Sri Lanka A: Dunith Wellalage (c), Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Avishka Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Sahan Arachchige, Lasith Croospulle, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Binura Fernando and Pramod Madushan.
Afghanistan A: Riaz Hassan, Zubaid Akbari, Noor Ali Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal (c), Baheer Shah, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Izharulhaq Naveed, Mohammad Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai, Sayed Shirzad and Zia-ur-Rehman.
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicketkeeper: Minod Bhanuka, Ikram Alikhil
Batters: Noor Ali Zadran, Avishka Fernando, Pasindu Sooriyabandara
All-Rounders: Chamika Karunaratne, Sahan Arachchige, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia-ur-Rehman
Bowlers: Pramod Madushan, Mohammad Ibrahim Abdulrahimzai
Captain: Avishka Fernando
Vice-Captain: Pramod Madushan
Prediction
Sri Lanka A are considered the favourites to upstage Afghanistan A and take the top spot on the Group A points table.
 "Aakash Saini")
