Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI, Highlights: SL Beat AFG by by 7 Wickets and Win Series 3-0

SL vs AFG 2024 3rd ODI Highlights:

Sri Lanka managed to clinch the final ODI to clean sweep the series against Afghanistan 3-0. Pathum Nissanka managed to put in another match-winning effort by scoring a century to seal the chase for the hosts.

Afghanistan managed to score 266 in the first innings thanks to contributions from Rahmatullag Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai. Pramod Madushan for Sri Lanka was the stand-out bowler with three wickets in the innings.

Sri Lanka’s chase got going smoothly with the opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando putting up a 173-run partnership to put the hosts in cruise control. Fernando missed out on a well-deserved century with Qais Ahmed getting the breakthrough, but Nissanka went on to bring up his ton. Coupled with a solid knock from the skipper Kusal Mendis who scored 40.  Sri Lanka went on to cruise on to their third win. Qais Ahmed was able to get the wicket of the Sri Lankan skipper but it was too late as the hosts went on to clinch the series.

Afghanistan certainly missed their strike bowler Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman who have been playing big roles in the side’s white ball games and the Afghans certainly showed that with the others unable to get the early wickets.

Pathum Nissanka went on to win the Player of the Series award for amassing 346 runs in the series which included a double century and ton to take the award. Sri Lanka will hope that his form continues as they will take on Afghanistan once again in a three-match T20I series at Dambulla as well.

SL vs AFG 3rd ODI Playing XIs

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wicketkeeper), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (captain/wicketkeeper), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka