SL vs AFG 1st ODI Match Prediction & Betting Tips
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan go head to head in the first of three ODIs on Friday afternoon, February 9th, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in this format last month with this game Afghanistan’s first in this format since the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Read on as we preview this day-night match. The ODI gets underway at 14:30 local time.
Sri Lanka went all the way to the final of the 2023 Asia Cup in September which raised expectations ahead of the 2023 Cricket World Cup but they were then very disappointing, finishing only above the Netherlands. However, on home soil, they will be confident of getting off to a winning start in this series.
Afghanistan lost their last two games in the 2023 Cricket World Cup with defeats to semi-finalists South Africa and eventual winners Australia but they won three of their previous four. They play with an attacking mindset and they will not fear Sri Lanka in this match.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 1st ODI Match Live Streaming
TV channels: This game will be broadcast on Sony Sports Ten 5.
Live Streaming: You can live-stream the match on the Sony Liv app and on the website.
SL vs AFG Match Toss Prediction
The last three completed ODIs in Pallekele have been won by the team fielding first with the last victory for the team batting first in November 2022. Our prediction is that both captains will choose to field first in this match.
SL vs AFG Pitch Report
Typically this pitch give a bit more assistance to the quick bowlers than other venues in Sri Lanka. We can expect a par score to be over 285.
Pallekele Weather Report
Humidity levels will increase as the game progresses and it will be a hot afternoon and evening in Pallekele. There is no danger of any rain interruptions.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 1st ODI 2024
Sri Lanka Team News & Playing 11
SL Team News
Ahead of this series, Sri Lanka have selected a combination of experienced players and some young exciting prospects who have had limited international exposure. No injuries have been reported ahead of this game and we expect Pathum Nissanka to come back for his first ODI appearance since the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
SL Key Players
- Pathum Nissanka - the 25 year old right-handed opener missed the ODI series with Zimbabwe due to injury but has hit scores between 41 - 77 from six of their last eight matches in this format.
- Charith Asalanka - The left-handed middle order batter is an all-format international but has had most success in this format where he averages 40.51 from 46 innings.
- Dilshan Madushanka - The quick left-arm pace bowler is accurate and also gets late swing. From 18 ODIs he has taken 35 wickets at an average of 22.88.
- Wanindu Hasaranga - The bowling all-rounder is Sri Lanka’s T20I skipper but is also an excellent ODI bowler. He missed the 2023 Cricket World Cup with injury and was badly missed by the side.
SL Team Form
Sri Lanka come into this game targeting their third successive ODI victory.
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing 11
Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c) (wk), Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
Afghanistan Team News & Playing 11
AFG Team News
Jonathan Trott has impressed as Afghanistan head coach over the last 12 months and he brings an experienced group of players to Pallekele looking to build on their performances in India last year. However, they are still without spinner Rashid Khan who continues to recover from back surgery and Noor Ahmad who is in the SA20.
AFG Key Players
- Ibrahim Zadran - The opener has a brilliant record in ODI cricket and looks set to be a key batter for Afghanistan over the next decade. He hit 129 not out in his last but one innings in this format against Australia.
- Hashmatullah Shahidi - The 29 year old left-handed skipper averages 34.18 in ODIs and impressed with five half-centuries across the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
- Mohammad Nabi - The 39 year old all-rounder has taken over 250 international wickets with 162 in ODIs. He took figures of 3/17 earlier this month in the BPL.
- Azmatullah Omarzai - The right-arm fast medium bowling all-rounder has impressed with the ball so far this year with wickets against India in the T20I series and for Rangpur Riders in the BPL.
AFG Team Form
Afghanistan have won three of their last five T20Is and their last three T20I series.
Afghanistan Predicted Playing 11
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Head to Head
Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets with 28 balls remaining when they met in the 2023 Cricket World Cup last October. However it was Sri Lanka who won the previous three ODI head to heads.
SL vs AFG Head to Head Stats in ODI's
| |
Matches Played |
SL Won |
AFG Won |
Tie |
NR |
| Overall |
12 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
| Last 5 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Betting Odds
The bookies are backing the hosts, Sri Lanka to win this opening ODI. They can be backed at 1.40 with Afghanistan the underdogs at 2.87.
Who will win Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 1st T20 Match?
This could well be an interesting clash between Sri Lanka who will want to build on their victory over Zimbabwe earlier in the year and Afghanistan who impressed in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Sri Lanka have the stronger pace attack and we expect that to be crucial so we have them as the top side.
🏆 Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Prediction
In hot and humid conditions across Friday afternoon and evening in Pallekele, this could well be a close and competitive contest. Afghanistan will be no push-overs and we expect them to push Sri Lanka all the way with a positive batting approach. However, Sri Lanka are strong at home and we predict them to come out on top and go 1-0 up in the series.
Sri Lanka to beat Afghanistan in 1st ODI
Feb 09, 2024
14:30 IST / 9:00 GMT
Pallekele Cricket Stadium - Kandy, Sri Lanka
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