walks down, and swipes this length ball outside off over midwicket. The ball sails over the man inside the circle, and beats deep square leg to his left. With that, Sri Lanka win by seven wickets, and more than 14 overs left
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI at Kandy, SL v AFG, Feb 14 2024 - Match Result
Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets (with 88 balls remaining)
So we wrap up with the ODI leg of the tour, which also goes Sri Lanka's way after their win in the one-off Test. They take the series 3-0, and Afghanistan take home the little periods of fight and determination - like turning 55 for 5 to 339 for 6 in the first ODI. Madushka's report for the day is up, in case you missed any of the action, as this is Himanshu signing off on behalf of Fidel, Chandan and Vairavan! Good night!
Kusal Mendis, the series-winning captain: "I'm really happy we won, and to do it without Maheesh and Wanindu was great. Akila Dananjaya and Dunith Wellalage were excellent and gave me confidence that we had bench strength. We've played this series on good pitches, and I'm happy about that. The next World Cup is in South Africa and we've got a few years before that, but this is the start of our preparation. Right through this series we've had batters in form, and they did well. I'm really thankful to the crowd who came to support us, and to the curators and those who worked on the pitch. We got the surfaces that we wanted."
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghanistan captain: "The result didn't go our way. Sri Lanka played really good cricket in all three departments, so credit goes to them. We didn't have enough runs. The bowlers also didn't bowl according to the plan. They (Rashid and Mujeeb) are the main bowlers of the team. If they were with us, it would have been better. I'll not be a part of the T20I series; I wish best of luck to the team. Hopefully our team does come back in that series."
Pathum Nissanka is the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series: "I had no idea about getting to 2000 the fastest of any Sri Lanka batter. I'm really thankful to my father who was my first coach. We got a good wicket to bat on, and we got a good start through Avishka and myself, so we just continued in that vein."
Time for the presentations
Joe: "Nissanka will get POTM, and POTS as well" --- No prizes for guessing
Mark: "This is brutally one-sided. Afghanistan have some issues to address."
9.18pm A crushing way to complete a commanding 3-0 series sweep. A whole lot of 88 deliveries remain, as the chase of 267 is wrapped up at a run rate of more than seven runs an over. While Avishka, with 91 off 66 balls, was aggressive, Nissanka was more nimble at the beginning; but as the pair spent more and more time, even Nissanka drove and swiped his way to 118 from 101 deliveries. An effortless victory, giving the feeling that nothing was impossible had they been batting first. Hang around for the presentations.
poked off the outside edge at this length ball just outside off. The ball rolls wide of slip
fuller length just outside off, and clipped to square leg
short of a length on middle, and quicker. Pulled towards midwicket
length ball angling across, and left alone
yorker length dipping on middle, and flicked to deep square
tossed up, and full just outside off. Drilled to long-on
Ran: "Nabi has bowled well despite the carnage at the opposite end. Afghans will be tougher opposition with Rashid and Mujeeb"
full and dipping on middle. Nudged wide of the man at midwicket
full and straight, and angled in. Another firm defence from Asalanka
full delivery dipping on middle and off. Clipped behind square for a single
From over the wicket to Sadeera
good bounce off a length on middle, and pushed to long-on
full ball on off, and blocked again
fuller length, and dipping on middle. Defended down
goes deep in the crease, and pokes at this length ball outside off to place it wide of second slip
Two slips in place. Nabi from around.
length delivery outside off, and slapped to deep point
fullish ball on middle and off, and turning in to hit his front pad as he looked to clip. But the ball would have gone down the leg side
fullish, and dipping just outside off. Defended back to Qais
Asalanka
popped up for point! Nissanka looked in a hurry to get this done, but ended up ballooning it up for a simple catch. Qais dangled this ball on a full length on off, with the ball shaping to turn away slightly. But Nissanka was early into his across-the-line slog sweep, and ended up getting a top edge for an easy take by Nabi. A defining innings comes to an end
loopy, and dipping on a full length on off. Driven to long-off
Sadeera at No. 4. A slip in place.
short of a length on off, and turning away very sharply to finish wide of off. Nissanka went to pull to deep midwicket, and lost his shape and bottom hand
Qais back
1W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | |
Toss | Afghanistan, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2023/24 |
Player Of The Match | |
Player Of The Series | |
Series result | Sri Lanka won the 3-match series 3-0 |
Match number | ODI no. 4729 |
Hours of play (local time) | 14.30 start, First Session 14.30-18.00, Interval 18.00-18.30, Second Session 18.30-22.00 |
Match days | 14 February 2024 - daynight (50-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |
Over 36 • SL 267/3
Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets (with 88 balls remaining)