Sri Lanka rope in Kasun Rajitha as concussion substitute for debutant Chamika Gunasekra

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are locking horns in the only test match at Colombo in Sri Lanka. Afghanistan won the toss but faced a formidable Sri Lankan bowling attack, managing only 198 runs in the 1st innings. Sri Lanka, in response, dominated with a massive score of 439 runs, thanks to stellar performances from Angelo Matthews and Dinesh Chandimal.

As the match progressed, Afghanistan made a strong comeback, standing at 199 for the loss of 1 wicket by Stumps on Day 3. Ibrahim Zadran emerged as the hero, scoring his maiden test century and bringing his team back into contention, trailing Sri Lanka by 42 runs with 9 wickets in hand.

The spotlight shone on Ibrahim Zadran, who displayed remarkable mettle in hitting his maiden test hundred. His performance not only bolstered Afghanistan’s chances in the game but also showcased the rising batting talent in the Afghanistan setup.

Chamika Gunasekra’s tumultuous start in Test cricket

However, the game took an unfortunate turn when debutant Chamika Gunasekra suffered a head injury from Afghanistan pacer Naveen Zadran’s delivery. The Sri Lankan team’s physiotherapist swiftly reached the field and conducted a concussion assessment, which Gunasekra successfully cleared, allowing him to resume batting.

However, a few overs later, he displayed discomfort, experiencing the typical aftermath of a concussion. As a precaution, Gunasekra was removed from the field, and Sri Lanka brought in Kasun Rajitha as his substitute. Gunasekra, who was batting at 16 not out and positioned at No.8 for Sri Lanka, received the blow to his head during this period and was subsequently taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

Naveen Zadran, Afghanistan’s bowling spearhead, played a pivotal role in the match. Adding to Afghanistan’s challenges, Mohammad Saleem sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, forcing him out of the match. The match is currently poised in balance and Day 4 will eventually decide in which direction the match is heading towards.