Pathum, Avishka steer Sri Lanka to emphatic seven-wicket win

By M. Shamil Amit Reporting from Pallekele

Openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando sent the Afghanistan bowlers on a leather hunt as they made a run chase of 267 runs look easy to give Sri Lanka a solid start by sharing an opening wicket stand of 173 in only 138 balls, laying the foundation for an emphatic seven-wicket win in the third ODI encounter played at the Pallekele Stadium yesterday for the host side to make a clean sweep of the series.

It was swashbuckling batting as Avishka, though unfortunate to miss out on a ton being dismissed for 91 which came off just 66 balls, hit ten boundaries and five towering sixes.

Nissanka, the first Sri Lankan to make the magical double ton, made amends for his failure in the second ODI as he smothered the Afghanistan bowlers paying scant respect as he raced to his century in 89 balls which comprised 13 boundaries and two sixes.

Pathum joined by his skipper Kusal Mendis continued to torment the opposition bowling as they accumulated runs with the minimum of fuss and they put up their 50-run stand for the second wicket in 36 balls.

The duo posted Sri Lanka’s 250 runs in 191 balls before they were separated with the dismissal of Mendis, who hit 40 in 29 balls with four boundaries, and having shared 78 runs in 54 balls for the second wicket with Sri Lanka on 251 for 2 in 32nd over.

Pathum unfortunately did not last long as he was dismissed two runs later having cracked 118 in 106 balls which had 16 boundaries and two sixes.

Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka was left with just nine runs to score for Sri Lanka’s win which they did with ease to race to the target in the 36th over.

The first session of proceedings saw Afghanistan taking first lease of the wicket after skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi won the toss.

Opener Rahmanullah Garbaz smashed four consecutive boundaries in the first over off pacie Dilshan Madushanka.

The pair added 39 runs, Zadran being unable to beat a direct throw from Avishka fielding at extra cover with his personal score on 13.
Gurbaz joined by Rahmat Shah gave the Sri Lanka bowlers some anxious moments whilst putting up Afghanistan’s 50 runs on the board that came off 38 balls.
The pair put on their 50-run stand for the second wicket but Gurbaz was unfortunate to miss out on his half ton by two runs as he fell victim to Akila Dhananjaya, who along with Dunith Wellalage came into the side in place of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.

Gurbaz along with Shah put on a valuable 57 runs for the second wicket.

Skipper Shahidi who followed did not last long as he too fell victim to Dhananjaya for just five runs.

There were two half century stands the first being 58 runs for the fourth wicket between Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai which was separated with the dismissal of Shah who cracked 65 with seven boundaries and a six and the other being 57 runs for the fifth wicket between Omarzai and Ikram Alikhil.

It was almost a repeat of the previous match as the late order batting failed to make an impression and Afghanistan left with just over ten overs of batting saw them losing wickets at regular intervals and lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 43 runs being bowled out for 266 runs.