Sri Lanka secured their fifth bilateral ODI series victory of the year with a thrilling 3-wicket win over New Zealand in the second match of the 3-game series. Opting to bat first, New Zealand faced interruptions from rain, which hampered their momentum. The top order faltered early, with Tim Robinson and Henry Nicholls departing cheaply. Will Young provided brief resistance but was dismissed for 26. Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips steadied the innings briefly with a 39-run partnership before Phillips fell for 15. Chapman found a reliable partner in Mitchell Hay, and their 75-run stand was the highlight of New Zealand's innings. Chapman top-scored with 76 off 81 balls, while Hay contributed a vital 49. However, the lower order collapsed, leaving the visitors with a modest total of 209 runs. Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay were the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka, claiming three wickets each.

Chasing 210 under DLS conditions, Sri Lanka faced an early wobble, losing key batters like Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, and Charith Asalanka cheaply. Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 74 off 102 balls, showcasing his class and maturity. Despite wickets tumbling around him, Mendis found valuable support from Janith Liyanage (22) and later Maheesh Theekshana (14*), who contributed a crucial 47-run partnership for the eighth wicket to see Sri Lanka home with seven balls to spare. New Zealand's Michael Bracewell put up a spirited fight, bagging 4 wickets for 36 runs—his career-best List A figures—but his efforts couldn’t prevent Sri Lanka from sealing the series in style. The victory, fueled by Mendis’ brilliance, was met with resounding applause from the home crowd, underlining Sri Lanka's dominance in ODI cricket this year.

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Analyzing Kusal Mendis's 74 runs against NZL bowlers

Kusal Mendis' masterful innings of 74* off 102 balls was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka's thrilling 3-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second ODI, which also sealed the bilateral series. Facing a challenging chase of 210 runs under DLS conditions, Mendis displayed remarkable composure and skill to anchor the innings. His ability to handle New Zealand's bowling attack with precision ensured Sri Lanka emerged victorious in a closely fought contest. Each bowler tested him differently, but Mendis adapted seamlessly, playing a calculated and match-winning knock.

Against Glenn Phillips, Mendis started cautiously, scoring 17 runs off 22 balls at a strike rate of 77.3. He carefully rotated the strike while punishing the occasional loose delivery. His ability to keep Phillips at bay with a dot-ball percentage of 36.4 ensured that the pressure did not build too much during the crucial middle overs. Ish Sodhi's leg spin posed a significant challenge, but Mendis tackled it skillfully, scoring 24 runs off 23 balls with three boundaries. His strike rate of 104.3 against Sodhi reflected his confidence in taking on the spinners when required.

Jacob Duffy faced the full force of Mendis’ controlled aggression. In just 6 balls, Mendis scored a brisk 10 runs at a strike rate of 166.7, which included a crisp boundary. This attacking approach disrupted Duffy's rhythm and provided momentum to Sri Lanka's chase at a critical juncture. Meanwhile, Mendis showed patience against Michael Bracewell, adding 11 runs off 21 balls. Despite a dot-ball percentage of 47.6, Mendis’ steady approach ensured that Bracewell could not make inroads into Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.

Mitchell Santner’s left-arm spin presented the toughest challenge for Mendis, as he managed only 8 runs off 25 balls with a staggering dot-ball percentage of 80. However, Mendis weathered the storm and avoided risky shots, keeping Sri Lanka in the hunt. His determination to see off Santner’s spell without losing his wicket was a testament to his maturity and game awareness. Similarly, against Nathan Smith, Mendis remained cautious, scoring 4 runs off 5 balls, ensuring the target stayed within reach without taking unnecessary risks.

The defining moment of the innings came in his partnership with Maheesh Theekshana, who provided valuable support during the tense final phase of the chase. Together, they stitched a crucial 47-run stand that carried Sri Lanka over the line. Mendis’ ability to shift gears when needed and manage the chase under immense pressure exemplified his class and temperament. The victory not only secured the series for Sri Lanka but also highlighted Kusal Mendis' status as one of their most reliable and composed batters in crucial situations.

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Sri Lanka started the three-match home ODI series against New Zealand powerfully before a rain interruption in the last over of the first innings.  

After Sri Lanka chose to bat first, the hosts scored 324/5 in 49.2 overs before rain interrupted the game. While the opener Avishka Fernando scored 100 runs off 115 balls with the help of nine fours and two sixes, the wicketkeeper-batter 143 runs off 128 balls with the help of 17 fours and two sixes. 

Also, the skipper Charith Asalanka played a powerful cameo late as he scored 40 off 28 balls (three fours and two sixes) and was out just before the rain interruption. 

Here are some key stats of the innings

Sri Lankan opener Avishka Fernando and the no.3 batter Kusal Mendis set up a 206-run partnership for the second wicket.

• It was Sri Lanka’s second ODI double-century partnership as well as the highest ODI partnership for any wicket against New Zealand. Their previous record was a 201-run partnership for the opening wicket between Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga at Napier in 2006. 

• It was Sri Lanka’s fourth 200+ ODI partnership for the second wicket and third-highest ODI partnership for the second wicket.

• It was Sri Lanka’s sixth-highest ODI partnership for any wicket at home. 

Kusal Mendis scored 143 runs.

• It was the highest individual ODI score by a wicketkeeper-batter against New Zealand. The previous record was 142 by the Zimbabwean Dave Houghton in the 1987 Hyderabad ODI during the ICC Cricket World Cup 1987.

• It was the highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan batter against New Zealand. The previous record was 140 runs by two Lankan batters, Sanath Jayasuriya (at Bloemfontein in 1994) and Thisara Perera (at Mount Maunganui in 2019).

• It was the second-highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan wicketkeeper. The record is 169 runs by Kumar Sangakkara against South Africa in the 2013 Colombo (RPS) ODI.  
  

• It was the third-highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan non-opener. 
  

• It was the fifth-highest individual ODI score by a Sri Lankan batter at home.
  

Sri Lanka scored 324/5 in 49.2 overs.

• It was the second time for Sri Lanka to score a 300+ total against New Zealand, as it was the second-highest ODI total for Sri Lanka against New Zealand. The record is 326 all out in 49 overs during the 2019 Mount Maunganui ODI.

As the SL vs AFG ODI series approaches, Sri Lanka has announced its squad for the matches commencing on February 9, 2024. Leading the team will be Kusal Mendis, with Charith Asalanka serving as vice-captain. Notably, former captain and all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been omitted from the lineup, as the team aims to maintain the winning momentum from their recent ODI series victory against Zimbabwe.

The squad boasts established players like Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Avishka Fernando, alongside emerging talents such as Shevon Daniel and Janith Liyange. Renowned for its spin prowess, Sri Lanka’s squad features key spinners like Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dhananjaya, and the promising Dunith Wellalage, who impressed during the Asia Cup 2023.

Absent from the squad is all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, last seen representing Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup 2023. In his place, Chamika Karunaratne joins the team to bolster the pace bowling unit, alongside Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, and Pramod Madushan. Matheesha Pathirana remains sidelined due to a shoulder injury.

Following a dominant 10-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test match, Sri Lanka now turns its focus to the white-ball leg of the tour. The ODI series, spanning from February 9 to February 14, will take place at the Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele, before transitioning to Dambulla for the T20Is.

Afghanistan, under Hashmatullah Shahidi’s leadership, seeks to maintain their winning momentum against Sri Lanka, although they’ll miss Rashid Khan due to his ongoing back injury. Having triumphed over Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup 2023, Afghanistan aims to replicate their past success. Sri Lanka’s lackluster performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 led to a ninth-place finish, marred by injuries to key players.

Despite their setbacks, Sri Lanka staged a commendable comeback in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, clinching victory with a 2-0 scoreline. Kusal Mendis and Janith Liyange emerged as standout performers, leading the run charts with 129 and 119 runs respectively from three matches. Afghanistan, rapidly emerging as a cricketing force, recently challenged India in a T20I series and displayed resilience in the sole Test match against Sri Lanka, albeit succumbing to a remarkable 10-wicket defeat.

Sri Lanka’s ODI Squad for Afghanistan Series

Kusal Mendis (Captain), Charith Asalanka (Vice-Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Sahan Arachchige, Akila Dananjaya, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Shevon Daniel.

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In the early stages of the Asia Cup, most matches had been characterized by one-sided outcomes, leaving fans craving a truly exciting showdown between two competitive teams. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka stepped up to deliver precisely that. In a nail-biting conclusion to the match, Sri Lanka emerged victorious by a margin of just 2 runs, in a game that saw a combined total of 580 runs scored. It was a thrilling spectacle that had fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

Sri Lanka got off to a strong start with Nissanka shifting gears and taking the aggressive route. But the loss of 3 quick wickets with a span of 6 overs dented their run rate and the onus was on the experienced Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka to steady the ship. Their 102-run partnership not only ensured that their team got out of the crisis but also ensured that the finishers had enough overs to give the much-needed momentous finish.

While the Sri Lankans did tumble from 188/3 to 227/7, their tailenders in the form of Wellalage and Theekshana created a formidable partnership that saw the team reach a competitive total of 291. Kusal Mendis stood for almost 30 overs in the innings and scored 92 runs.

Afghanistan on the other hand started on the wrong foot, by losing 2 wickets within their first 5 overs. But the Sri Lankan bowlers couldn’t keep a lid on their scoring rate and the arrival of Mohammad Nabi just made things worse for the bowling team. The Afghan skipper and Nabi registered a fantastic counter attacking partnership worth 80 runs of just 47 deliveries, with Nabi scoring almost 82 percent of the partnership runs. While the trio of Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran and Rashid khan provided their finishing impetus, it wasn’t enough for Afghanistan as they fell short by a slim margin of 2 runs.

In this article, we will delve into the batting performances of Kusal Mendis and Mohammad Nabi.

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Kusal Mendis’ Steady Knock

A quick glance of the charts shows us the wide variety of shots that Mendis played throughout the innings. He started of his innings at a slow pace scoring 32 runs of his first 47 deliveries. He then took on Rashid khan and scored 3 consecutive boundaries which provided him a major momentum boost and he ended up scoring 60 runs of the next 37 deliveries.

He scored a bulk of his runs of the front foot drive (18.3%) but he showed prowess in his back foot pull shots which aggregated to almost 17% of his total runs. Once he had settled down, he started taking on the spinners, which included the aggressive front foot slog (12.9% of the total runs). He is also well known for playing the hook shot which aggregated close to 7% of his total runs.

Throughout the first phase of his innings, he took on the role of a strike rotator and majorly played the back foot push and the front foot push which aggregated close to 11% and 9% of his total runs respectively.

Mohammad Nabi’s Swashbuckling innings

Afghanistan had to play at almost 8 runs an over in order to qualify for the next stage of the tournament. Just when things seemed to be bleak, Mohammad Nabi entered the crease and changed the complexity of the game. His counter attacking innings provided the much-needed hope and momentum for the Afghan team.

His major scoring area was the third man region but that was primarily because of a few outside edges which went to the fence. He played a few astounding strokes towards the mid-wicket and covers region which accounted for close to 19% and 16% percent of his total runs respectively. He also played a few eye pleasing lofted drives towards the extra covers and long on region accounting for close to 11% of his total runs respectively. He put away the wide short balls with his fierce back foot cut shots to the cover-point and point regions.

While it was a spectacle to watch Nabi’s counter attacking innings, he would feel gutted for not staying longer in the crease and finishing off the match before the required over mark.