Sri Lanka and Afghanistan were up against each other in the third match of the three-match series on Wednesday (14th February). The dead-rubber game between the teams took place at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.
Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. They were off the flying start as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran added 39 runs just inside the 5 overs. But their partnership ended in a disappointing way as the latter got run out for 13 runs. The keeper-batter continued batting but perished for 48 runs.
Rahmat Shah played a vital hand for the team and slammed a magnificent half-century. He scored 65 runs off 77 balls and added a vital partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai. The latter slammed 54 runs off 59 balls that brought Afghanistan back into the game after losing wickets quickly.
The duo added 58 runs together before Rahmat Shah perished. Ikram Alikhil (32) played a vital hand for the team as well. He along with Azmatullah Omarzai added 57 runs together. However, after their wicket, Afghanistan lost wickets quickly and were under pressure.
Mohammad Nabi (14), and Qais Ahmad (11) made vital contributions that made sure Afghanistan went past the 250-run mark. The visitors were bundled out for just 266 runs. With the kind of start they had, it seemed that they would post something over 300 but Sri Lanka pulled back things pretty well.
For Sri Lanka, Pramod Madushan was the pick of the bowlers. He returned with the figures of 3/45. Ashita Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, and Akila Dananjaya picked two wickets each and restricted the opposition to a low total inside 49 overs.
SL vs AFG Scorecard, 3rd ODI Highlights: Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando help Sri Lanka crush Afghanistan
Sri Lanka were off the a flying start in the chase as the duo of Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando took the team off the brutal start. The opening batters didn’t put a foot wrong and made opposition bowlers look clueless with their sensational batting.
Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando added 173 runs for the opening partnership before the latter got out for 91 runs. After that skipper Kusal Mendis came in and played a vital hand. He ended with an innings of 40 runs off just 29 balls that helped Sri Lanka put one foot past the finishing line.
Pathum Nissanka on the other hand notched up a magnificent century and made sure his team got close to the win. The opening batter played an innings of 118 runs off 101 runs that outshined the opposition and put them under pressure.
Charith Asalanka (7*) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (13*) in the end made sure that Sri Lanka didn’t lose any more wickers. The hosts chased the target with 7 wickets in hand and went past the finishing line in just 35.2 overs. They completed a 3-0 whitewash as well. For Afghanistan, Qais Ahmad tried to keep his team in the hunt as he picked two wickets but that wasn’t enough.
Brief scores
Afghanistan: 266-10 (Rahmat Shah 66; Pramod Madushan 3/45)
Sri Lanka: 267-3 (Pathum Nissanka 118; Qais Ahmad 2/46)
