ODI World Cup 2023: Match 30, AFG vs SL Stats & Records at Maharashtra International Cricket Stadium, Pune

Afghanistan (AFG) and Sri Lanka (SL) will lock horns in match number 30 of ICC ODI World Cup 2023 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on October 30, 2023.

Sri Lanka will enter into the contest on the back of an emphatic win over England and have fancied their chances of qualifying to the semi-finals. They did lose the first three games but have comeback stronger in the last two games. Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis have performed brilliantly for the lions with all the three scoring over 200 runs five games while Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha have been among the wickets with 11 and seven scalps, respectively.

The addition of Angelo Matthews to the squad has given Sri Lanka a boost to to progress further as his experience played a important role in what was looking a fragile bowling unit. Matthews picked up two wickets for 14 runs in his five overs against England, importantly the wicket of in-from Dawid Malan on just his very third ball on his ODI return. Sri Lanka will look to carry on the winning momentum.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, will head into the game on the back of historic win against their rivals Pakistan in MA Chidambaram Stadium. They did win two games -against England and one against Pakistan and have lost three games. They are currently placed seventh in the table with four points.

Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been their go-to batter as he has so far aggregated 224 runs in five games at an average of 44.80 while striking at 101.35. Gurbaz's co-opener Ibrahim Zadran and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi too have scored 173 and 168 runs, respectively. In the bowling department, Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq have picked up six wickets each while Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman have picked four wickets each. 

AFG vs SL Head-to-Head Record:

In 11 matches played between the two, Sri Lanka dominate with seven wins while Afghanistan have won on thrice while one game ended in no-result.

Maharashtra International Stadium ODI Records:

In eight games played at the venue, pacers have picked up 84 wickets at an average of 34.27 while spinners have picked 31 wickets at an average of 54.77. The teams batting first and second have won four matches each. The average first batting score here is 301.

X-Factors for Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan:

Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka has scored 243 runs in five games this year and has got four consecutive half-centuries in the World Cup so far. His form at the top will be the key for Sri Lanka if they need to go big against Afghanistan,

Afghanistan:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been in the prime-form in the ongoing World Cup, aggregating 224 runs in five games. He was instrumental in Afghanistan's wins against England and Pakistan and is expected to keep the form going. 

AFG vs SL Player Battles to Watch Out For 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Kasun Rajitha:

In six innings, Rajitha has clearly won the contest. He has picked two wickets in 49 balls, with 39 being dots. Gurbaz has managed to score only 23 runs at an average of 11.50 against him.

Kusal Mendis vs Mohammad Nabi:

In five innings , the battle is even-stevens between these two as Nabi has dismissed Mendis twice in 77 balls while bowling 39 dot balls. Mendis has scored 55 runs at an average of 27.5 and has struck at 71.42. 

AFG vs SL Probable Playing XI

Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Afghanistan:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi