Sri Lanka whitewash Afghanistan a clean sweep in the ODI series with a comprehensive win. Pathum Nissanka’s century and Avishka Fernando’s aggressive batting guided Sri Lanka to victory.
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Sri Lanka Whitewash Afghanistan in Dominant ODI Series Victory
Sri Lanka’s commanding performance in the third and final ODI against Afghanistan not only secured a convincing seven-wicket win but also marked a clean sweep of the series. With Pathum Nissanka’s exceptional century and Avishka Fernando’s aggressive batting leading the charge, Sri Lanka showcased their dominance on the cricketing stage.
Nissanka and Fernando Lead Sri Lanka’s Charge
Pathum Nissanka emerged as a standout performer, recording his second century in three games and becoming the highest run-scorer in the series with an impressive tally of 346 runs. His innings of 118 runs off 101 balls not only propelled Sri Lanka towards the target but also etched his name in the record books as the fastest Sri Lankan to reach 2000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in just 53 games.
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Avishka Fernando complemented Nissanka’s brilliance with his aggressive stroke play, particularly during his explosive innings of 91 runs off 66 balls. Despite an early chance offered to Afghanistan’s fielders, Fernando capitalized on his opportunity, punishing the Afghan bowlers with 10 fours and five sixes. His belligerent batting set the tone for Sri Lanka’s chase, laying the foundation for a comfortable victory.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Brilliance Restricts Afghanistan
While Sri Lanka’s batsmen stole the spotlight, their bowling unit played a crucial role in restricting Afghanistan’s scoring opportunities. Dunith Wellalage and Akila Dananjaya showcased their skills, picking up key wickets and maintaining pressure on the Afghan batsmen. Wellalage’s figures of 2 for 38 and Dananjaya’s 2 for 54 exemplified their effectiveness on a drier-than-usual surface.
Pramod Madushan’s impressive spell of 3 for 45 further bolstered Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, ensuring they capitalized on Afghanistan’s batting collapses. Asitha Fernando also made valuable contributions, grabbing crucial wickets to close out the Afghan innings. Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling display reflected their ability to adapt to varying conditions and stifle opposition batting line-ups.
Exploiting Afghanistan’s Weaknesses
Afghanistan’s batting effort, although marked by promising starts, faltered towards the end as they lost crucial wickets in quick succession. Despite the fifties from Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai, Afghanistan’s inability to capitalize on partnerships proved costly. The loss of momentum in the latter stages of their innings, coupled with Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling, exposed Afghanistan’s vulnerabilities and ultimately led to their downfall.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive start provided Afghanistan with early momentum, but his dismissal for 48 runs off 57 balls halted their progress. Subsequent wickets, including that of skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, further dented Afghanistan’s hopes of posting a challenging total. Despite brief periods of resilience from Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai, Afghanistan’s batting collapse in the final overs saw them bowled out for 266 runs.
Sri Lanka’s Clinical Finish
Chasing a target of 267 runs, Sri Lanka’s openers set the tone for a clinical run chase, forging a formidable partnership and capitalizing on Afghanistan’s bowling inconsistencies. Avishka Fernando’s aggressive approach, coupled with Nissanka’s composed century, ensured Sri Lanka’s victory with 88 balls to spare.
The middle-order contributions from Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Sadeera Samarawickrama further highlighted Sri Lanka’s depth in batting talent. Their ability to maintain momentum and finish the chase with ease underscored Sri Lanka’s dominance in the series.
Sri Lanka’s Triumph
In conclusion, Sri Lanka’s whitewash victory against Afghanistan is a testament to their superior performance across all departments of the game. Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando’s stellar batting, backed by a disciplined bowling effort, propelled Sri Lanka to a comprehensive series win. As they celebrate their success, Sri Lanka reaffirms their status as a formidable force in international cricket, while Afghanistan reflects on areas for improvement in their quest for success at the highest level.
