Sri Lanka sitting pretty after bowling Afghanistan out for 198

Saturday, 3 February 2024 01:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Wicket-keeper Sadeera Samarawickrama’s amazing anticipation to get rid of Rahmat Shah

Inaugural Test match at the SSC grounds

Test minnows Afghanistan playing in only their eighth Test match in seven years since being elevated to full ICC membership had their work cut out on the opening day of the one-off Test against Sri Lanka when they were dismissed for 198 after being invited to bat first at the SSC grounds yesterday.

By the close on a flat pitch where run making is going to be the order of the day, Sri Lanka had replied with 80 without loss with openers Nishan Madushanka and Dimuth Karunaratne at the wickets on 36 and 42 respectively.

Sri Lanka trail Afghanistan by 118 runs with all their wickets intact and are well set to pile up a big total on a surface which is going to be a batting paradise.

Sri Lanka bowlers came up with a potent performance to bowl out Afghanistan for a below-par total. After Asitha Fernando had struck in the first over by getting rid of Ibrahim Zadran for a golden duck by trapping him in front of the wicket, Afghanistan recovered through Noor Ali (31) and Rahmat Shah who put on 57 for the second wicket. They played some fluent strokes and made full use of some wayward deliveries bowled by the three pacers.

Noor Ali provided Vishwa Fernando with his first wicket when he offered an easy return catch. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (17) helped Rahmat add a further 52 for the third wicket before Vishwa picked up his second wicket that of Hashmatullah who edged a catch behind the wicket.

Afghanistan got to a promising 109-2 in the afternoon session before the wheels started to come apart. It was disappointing to see them not get even to 200.

The dismissal of top scorer Rahmat Shah for a classy 91 when he looked well set for a hundred by some smart wicket-keeping by Samarawickrama ended whatever hopes Afghanistan had of putting up a decent total on the board.

Rahmat paddle-swept Prabath Jayasuriya but Samarawickrama anticipating well and moving across almost towards leg-slip got his left glove to the ball before holding it with both hands to end an elegant knock that comprised 13 fours in the 138 balls he faced.

Ikram Alikhil and Qais Ahmed hung around for a few overs each contributing 21 before Vishwa with Asitha Fernando cleaned up the tail. Vishwa finished with a four-wicket haul, while Asitha and Jayasuriya picked up three apiece. Afghanistan lost their last four wickets for 16 runs.

Vishwa who was wayward in his opening spell conceding 30 runs in six overs said that it was difficult for a fast bowler to maintain match fitness and rhythm when you don’t play Test matches very often. In the eight years he has played international cricket he said he had appeared in only 20 Tests. In fact, Sri Lanka were playing their first Test in seven months, the last one having taken place in July last year.

Vishwa said that after the initial overs where the fast bowlers erred in their lines and lengths, they managed to get things right and pick up wickets in the afternoon session.

“Initially we thought the wicket would help the fast bowlers but after about five overs we realised that it was not that helpful to us so we shifted to Plan B to try and keep the runs down by bowling tight lines,” said Vishwa.

Sri Lanka capped 24-year-old fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara, while Afghanistan offered four new Test caps.