Watch: Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad hoodwinked Dasun Shanaka with a skiddy googly, rattling the Sri Lanka captain’s off stump during the first ODI between the two teams in Hambantota.
Noor, fresh from his campaign with Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, integrated into the Afghanistan national side for the three-match one-day series in Sri Lanka. It was just his second ODI appearance, having debuted against the same opposition last year.
In the 43rd over, Shanaka – batting alongside Charith Asalanka – creamed a length ball from Noor through covers to end a 25-ball boundary-less sequence. The 18-year-old, though, struck next ball: a googly pitched on middle-and-leg wasn’t read, and snuck past Shanaka to rattle his off stump.
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It was Noor’s only breakthrough, finishing with figures of 1-54. From 215-6 in the 43rd over, Sri Lanka eventually succumbed to 268 all out. Afghanistan chased down the target with six wickets and 3.1 overs to spare.
