Asalanka unbeaten 97 helps Sri Lanka to 308
Rex Clementine at Pallekele
The run feast that was witnessed in the first ODI wasn’t there yesterday at Pallekele but Sri Lanka still managed to post 308 for six in the second One-Day International.Sri Lanka owed it to their vice-captain Charith Asalanka, who was spectacular with the bat posting an unbeaten 97.
The left-hander had a tall order at his hand when captain Kusal Mendis became the fourth Sri Lankan batter to fall with the total on 147 and still 21 overs left in the innings.
There had been a tendency where Sri Lanka were shot out for below par totals after the top four had perished but Asalanka made sure that he addressed the issue as he was involved in two crucial partnerships.
Asalanka added 111 runs off 98 balls with Janith Liyanage for the fifth wicket to ensure there was no collapse and then when quick runs were needed together with Wanindu Hasaranga he smashed 50 runs off 32 balls for the sixth wicket.
In the last ten overs, Asalanka scored 62 runs off 35 balls.His 97 came off 74 balls with nine fours and two sixes.
Asalanka, the captain in waiting, has done a decent job for the side at number five and the maturity he has shown during these knocks augurs well moving forward.
Afghanistan were sloppy on the field dropping as many as five catches.
Pathum Nissanka wasn’t able to repeat his heroics of Friday as he was trapped leg before wicket for 18 and Avishka Fernando’s painful 23 ball stay at the crease came to an end when he was caught at point for five.
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama steadied the innings adding 103 runs for the third wicket. Both batsmen were dropped but failed to make most of the opportunities falling in the space of eight balls.
Both batters went onto post half-centuries.Janith Liyanage brought up his second half-century in ODIs with a straight six but was dismissed the very next delivery attempting another big hit.
Asalanka brought up Sri Lanka’s 300 with a boundary and was left stranded on 97.Sri Lanka had bad news prior to the game when Dushmantha Chameera was ruled out with a quadriceps injury. He was replaced by Asitha Fernando.
Sri Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0. The third and final ODI will be played on Wednesday. The teams will travel to Dambulla after the ODIs for the three match T-20 series.
