Asalanka, Hasaranga flatten Afghanistan to seal series for Sri Lanka
Afghanistan lost 8 for 25 as Sri Lanka brought the innings to a close inside 34 overs
Afghanistan lost 8 for 25 as Sri Lanka brought the innings to a close inside 34 overs
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: @himanshu_a30
So Sri Lanka wrap the series with an unbeatable 2-0 lead following a massive 155-run win tonight. That didn't look even remotely possible when Afghanistan's second-wicket pair was ticking along steadily. But Hasaranga weaved his magic, and brought Sri Lanka back amid a scarcely-believable slide for the visitors. Madushanka Madushka's report is up, as we bid you goodbye for today! See you, and take care!
Kusal Mendis, the 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 speaks now: "Mood is not good for everyone. This had happened in the second innings [of the Test too]. 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. [There were] nearly four drops. Fielding is important, and you also have to think about the bowling, where we have to be more disciplined."
Charith Asalanka is the Player of the Match for his 97* off 74 balls: "It's always challenging when I'm batting at No. 5 because I don't know what time I have to bat... Janith [and I] had a chat to carry the innings till the 40th over. Firstly, I was looking at 270-280. [But] when Janith was batting [that way], I thought it could [even] be 320. I was trying harder from the 47th over, but I couldn't get as much as I tried."
Time for the presentations
And inevitably, the collapse has brought our statsman Sampath into action. He says, "Afghanistan's 153 is the third-lowest men's ODI total where two batters scored fifties. Kenya's 142 vs Sri Lanka in the 2011 WC, and Scotland's 142 vs New Zealand in the 2015 CWC are the lowest"
Mausique Ahmed: "It is called a 'classic' collapse"
9.28pm Afghanistan lose 9 for 25 in just above seven overs. Nine for 25. Incredible. This comes barely two days after they threatened to cause a great upset, a game which was sandwiched between this one and the Test where they had also lost their last nine wickets in a hurry. This evening, Rahmat scored 63, and Ibrahim got 54. The next highest score from an Afghanistan batter was 9. Hang around for the presentations.
Gulbadin Naib lbw b Hasaranga 0 (12m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Shakib had held that position for just under five years, since May 2019
"This is how pitches need to be," he said of Pallekele where Sri Lanka notched up consecutive 300-plus totals
Afghanistan lost 8 for 25 as Sri Lanka brought the innings to a close inside 34 overs
Sri Lanka have called up Asitha Fernando as replacement