Sri Lanka defeats Afghanistan by 155 runs in the second ODI, securing the series victory

Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by 155 runs in the second one-day international at Pallekele on Sunday, putting them ahead 2-0 in the three-match series.

Afghanistan, who had set a target of 309 to square the series, were dismissed for 153 in 34 overs, with leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga taking four wickets. Afghanistan were well positioned at 128-1 in pursuit of their goal, but once Rahmat Shah (54) and Ibrahim Zadran (63) were gone, the remainder of the batsmen gave little resistance. The two had accumulated 97 runs for the second wicket, when Asitha Fernando, playing his first ODI in 15 months, made the breakthrough by catching Ibrahim behind.

Leg-spinner Hasaranga then claimed two wickets in an over, trapping Rahmat lbw and bowling Shahidi. Hasaranga was supported by seamers such as Dilshan Madushanka, who took two wickets in an over, and Asitha Fernando, who finished with two wickets. Afghanistan imploded, losing eight wickets for ten runs, as Sri Lanka dominated under lights.

Captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and decided to bat first, and the hosts went on to score 308-6 in 50 overs at Pallekele.

Despite a rough start, Sri Lanka recovered courtesy to Charith Asalanka’s tenacious batting effort. Asalanka’s unbroken 97 runs, together with vital partnerships with Janith Liyanage and Hasaranga, drove Sri Lanka to a daunting total of over 300 runs. Afghanistan’s shoddy fielding, highlighted by five missed catches, proved expensive, undermining their prospects of restraining Sri Lanka’s fearsome batting order. Shahidi bemoaned his team’s fielding blunders and acknowledged the need for improvement in their overall performance.

Sri Lanka lost opener Pathum Nissanka (18) early, and the departure of Avishka Fernando (5) left the team on 36-2. The visitors lost momentum when Gulbadin Naib dropped Mendis on 12 off seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi. Mendis went on to hit 61 runs, his 28th ODI half-century. Asalanka was also dropped at 67. Mendis scored 103 runs for the third wicket alongside Sadeera Samarawickrama (52). Janith Liyanage hit 50 from 48 balls at No. 6, and he added 111 runs with Asalanka for the fifth wicket.

The third and final ODI will take place on Wednesday at the same venue. The hosts won the tour’s only Test by ten wickets. The current series will be followed by three T20 matches, all held in Dambulla.

Kusal Mendis, Sri Lankan winning captain: “The toss was important. The pitch wasn’t as easy as the first ODI, but 320 was always on our mind. As far as the third ODI is concerned, there could be a few changes.”

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afganistan: “Mood is not good for everyone. This had happened in the second innings. Our top order did really well, but the ball was gripping for Hasaranga. Looking at the wicket and the conditions, we were positive, and were thinking of chasing it down. Top order did well. The fielding was not good; we have away chances. Nearly four drops. Fielding is important, and you also have to think about the bowling, where we have to be more disciplined.”

Charith Asalanka, Player of the Match: “It’s always challenging when I’m batting at No. 5 because I don’t know what time I have to bat… Janith had a chat to carry the innings till the 40th over. Firstly, I was looking at 270-280. When Janith was batting, I thought it could be 320. I was trying harder from the 47th over, but I couldn’t get as much as I tried.”

• Sri Lanka Score – 308/6 in 50.0 overs

Sri Lanka batting performance
Charith Asalanka 97(74)
Kusal Mendis 61(65)

Afghanistan bowling performance
Azmatullah Omarzai 10-56-3
Fazalhaq Farooqi 10-55-1

• Afghanistan Score – 153/10 in 33.5 overs

Afghanistan batting performance
Rahmat Shah 63(69)
Ibrahim Zadran 54(76)

Sri Lanka bowling performance
Wanindu Hasaranga 6.5-27-4
Asitha Fernando 6-23-2