At the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday, February 3, Afghanistan’s sole Test match against Sri Lanka ended with a disappointing day on the field as the hosts closed the day with 410/6. Rahmat Shah top-scored with 91 (139) as Afghanistan was routed for just 198 runs in the first inning earlier on Day 1. Notably, Noor Ali Zadran, 35, Ibrahim Zadran’s uncle, was one of the four players from Afghanistan who received debut caps for the game.
On the first day, Ibrahim Zadran gave his uncle the debut cap, and the two of them opened the innings together.
However, when Asitha Fernando bowled Ibrahim Zadran for a duck on the game’s first ball, Noor went on to score 31 (46), with the help of five fours, and they were unable to put up a remarkable stand.
Noor previously competed in the July 2023 ACC Men’s Emerging Cup and represented Afghanistan in 51 and 23 T20Is. In one hundred and seven fifty-innings, the right-handed hitter has amassed 1216 runs at an average of 24.81 in one hundred and sixteen test matches. In T20Is, he has amassed 597 runs at an average of 27.13, with four fifty-score innings.
Returning to the Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan Test match, Rahmat Shah struck a stunning 91 (139) to push Afghanistan to 198 in the opening session, with no other batsman surpassing 31 runs. With stats of 4/51 in 12 overs, Vishwa Fernando was Sri Lanka’s best bowler.
On Day 2, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews scored hundreds for Sri Lanka.
Nishan Madushka (37 off 53) and Dimuth Karunaratne (77 off 72) opened the reply for Sri Lanka, and they quickly put up 93 runs for the first wicket. Angelo Mathews (141) and Dinesh Chandimal (107), after being dismissed, made an incredible century and put up 232 runs for the fourth wicket. Sri Lanka is in a strong position at 410/6, leading by 212 runs in the first inning, thanks to their outstanding stand.
India
