Afghanistan faced a challenging day on the field during the second day of their only Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday, February 3, at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The hosts concluded the day on high, scoring 410/6.
On the very first day, Afghanistan batter Ibrahim Zadran presented the debut cap to his uncle Noor Ali Zadran, and the pair started the innings as opening partners. Unfortunately, their stand was not memorable, as Ibrahim faced dismissal on only the second ball of the match by Asitha Fernando, recording a duck. Meanwhile, Noor managed to score 31 (46) with five fours.
Ibrahim Presented the Debut Cap to Uncle:
In a truly unique sports moment, Afghanistan’s batter Ibrahim Zadran presented his uncle, Noor Ali Zadran, with his first Test cap during the one-off match against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Despite being born 13 years apart, Noor Ali debuted for the national team in 2009, while Ibrahim, his nephew, played for the senior side. Noor Ali not only made his Test debut after numerous ODIs and T20Is but also opened alongside Ibrahim, creating a rare uncle-nephew opening partnership on Friday.
Noor has a cricket journey filled with experience, featuring in 51 T20Is and 23 ODIs. His skills were showcased in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup in July 2023. The right-handed batter scores 1216 runs in ODIs, averaging 24.81, with a century and 7 fifties. In T20Is, he scored 597 runs at an average of 27.13, notching up four fifties. Noor’s impressive stats underline his contribution to Afghanistan’s cricket prowess.
Rare in sports, especially cricket, is the occurrence of family members from different generations playing together on the same team. Ken Griffey Senior and Junior achieved this uncommon feat as a father-son duo, both gracing the Seattle Mariners lineup during the 1990 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. Their unique partnership on the field remains a remarkable moment in the world of sports history.
Quick Match Tour:
In the one-off Test at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club, Sri Lanka chose to field and got an early breakthrough, dismissing Ibrahim for a two-ball duck. However, Noor’s resilient knock of 31 runs off 46 deliveries, including five boundaries, provided Afghanistan with a much-needed boost, forming a solid partnership of 57 runs with Rahmat Shah (91).
Despite this, Afghanistan’s innings took a downturn, collapsing from 109/2 to 198 all out. Rahmat’s impressive innings couldn’t rally support from the rest of the Afghan lineup. Sri Lanka’s openers, Karunaratne and Madushka, laid a strong foundation, reaching 80 for no loss by the close of play.
The following day, Sri Lanka dominated, with Mathews (141) and Chandimal (107) smashing centuries and forming a formidable partnership of 232 runs. By the end of Day 2, Sri Lanka had amassed 410/6, extending their lead to 212 runs. Vishwa Fernando shone with the ball for Sri Lanka, claiming figures of 4/51 in 12 overs.
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