Afghanistan is all set to take on the Sri Lanka in Match 30 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Monday, October 30 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Both the teams have a star-studded squad that can change the course of the game with their abilities. Afghanistan is the favourite to win this encounter against Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have a fierce rivalry in the format. Both teams have played 11 ODI matches, with Afghanistan winning 3 games and Sri Lanka winning 7 games so far in the head to head encounters. In this article, we will take a look at the key player battles to watch out for in the match 30 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Top 5 Players to Watch Out in Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Today Match
Here are three player battles to watch out for during AFG vs SL match:
1) Sadeera Samawickrama vs Naveen-ul-Haq
Sadeera Samawickrama leads Sri Lanka’s run charts in the World Cup 2023 and has been one of the most consistent performers in the tournament. With 295 runs from five matches at an impressive average of 98.33, including two fifties and a century, he is in stellar form. The battle between him and Naveen-ul-Haq promises to be an intriguing one. He played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s recent victory over Pakistan and will aim to continue his impressive performances.
2) Hashmatullah Shahidi vs Dhananjaya de Silva
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, has had a decent run in the tournament, accumulating 168 runs in five matches with an average of 42.00, including a half-century. In the upcoming match, he will face Dhananjaya de Silva, who has a solid track record against him. Dhananjaya has dismissed Shahidi twice in six matches, conceding 50 runs at a strike rate of 63.3.
3) Angelo Matthews vs Mohammad Nabi
Angelo Matthews made an immediate impact as a replacement for Matheesha Pathirana in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, picking up two crucial wickets against England. He is eager to make a mark with the bat in the upcoming match. However, he should be cautious when facing the veteran Afghanistan spinner, Mohammad Nabi, who has dismissed him twice in four ODI encounters. Matthews has managed only 23 runs against Nabi at a strike rate of 59.