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SL vs AFG: Rain plays spoilsport as 2nd ODI gets abandoned

image-lazjmwtsPallekele stadium [Source: Twitter]

Sri Lanka will certainly feel unlucky as rain god decided to interrupt at the wrong time. Sri Lankan bowlers did the hard job, restricting Afghanistan to a mere 228, but the rain was relentless as the match eventually got abandoned.

Clinical Lankan bowlers restrict Afghanistan

After the stellar performance in the opening ODI, Afghanistan batters were riding high on confidence. They won the toss and the decision to bat backfired as Ibrahim Zadran was sent packing for just 10.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz continued his good form from the last game and started the repair work alongside Rahmat Shah. Everything looked good for the visitors as the duo added 113 for the second wicket.

But once Gurbaz departed for a well crafted 68, Afghanistan wickets fell like a pack of cards. The wicket was on the slower side and the new batters found it difficult to get going and the Lankan bowlers took full advantage of it.

It was a clinical bowling performance from the Lankan side who bounced back strong after that drubbing in the first ODI. Kasun Rajitha was the pick of the bowlers, who picked up 3 for 31 in nine overs. Once the Afghan top-order departed, the middle and lower order hardly fought a battle as Sri Lanka eventually dismissed their opponent for just 228.

Rain spoiled a great match

229 was still a tricky total consider the sluggish wicket and the class Afghan bowlers. But we never got to witness a classic encounter as rain pelted down when Sri Lanka were 10-0 at 2.4 overs mark. 

The crowd at Pallekele waited and hoped for the rain to end, but today was not their day as the match was eventually called it off.

Afghanistan will breath a sigh of relief as they still lead the series 1-0.

Brief Score

Afghanistan: 228-10 (48.2)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz 68 (73), Rahmat Shah 58 (78);

Kasun Rajitha 3-31 (9), Maheesh Theekshana 2-49 (10)

Sri Lanka: 10-0 (2.4)

Pathum Nissanka 3* (8), Kusal Mendis 2* (8)

Match abandoned

Also Read: Rains came as a wet blanket as India lost the chance of winning an ODI series