Wanindu’s heroics help Sri Lanka seal series

By M. Shamil Amit Reporting from Pallekele Stadium

Wanindu Hasaranga put in another heroic performance as he bagged four scalps to help Sri Lanka seal the three-match series with a convincing 155-run win in the second ODI played at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday.

This was after middle-order batsmen skipper Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Janith Liyanage laid the foundation by cracking half tons and helping the side give the visitors a challenging target of 309 runs.

Afghanistan, in their run chase, saw only two batsmen, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah, putting in some resistance as the pair put on 97 runs for the second wicket. Their separation saw the Afghanistan batting being wrecked by Wanindu and the two pacies, Dilshan Madusanka and Asitha Fernando, who together shared four wickets between them as the visitors were bundled out for 153 runs.

In fact, Afghanistan lost nine wickets for the addition of just 25 runs, as from a healthy position of 128 for 1, they collapsed for a score of 153 runs.

The first session of proceedings turned out to be just the opposite of the first ODI after Sri Lanka skipper Mendis won the toss and elected to take first lease of the wicket.

The expectation of a repeat start strode away before the completion of the first ten overs. Though Pathum Nissanka cracked three boundaries, he fell victim to right-arm pacie Azmatullah Omarzi with Sri Lanka’s score on 19, and Avishka Fernando did not last long as he was dismissed cheaply with the side’s score on 36.

Sri Lanka recovered with two fruitful century partnerships and a half ton in the latter stages of the innings, and added to that, they were helped by some sloppy fielding by the Afghanistan fielders.

The first recovery came from Mendis and Samarawickrama, who together shared a valuable stand of 103 runs for the third wicket before they were separated with the dismissal of Samarawickrama, who made 52 that comprised three boundaries.

With Sri Lanka on 139 for 3, Mendis followed eight runs later, contributing a valuable 61 runs made in 65 balls, which had six boundaries and a six.
From there on, Asalanka and Liyanage took over as the pair posted a 50-run stand for the fifth wicket while also posting Sri Lanka’s 200 runs on the board.

Asalanka reached his half ton in 50 balls, which had five boundaries, and the pair followed by putting up Sri Lanka’s 250 runs on the board and also the 100-run stand. After Liyanage, who made a quick-fire 50 in 48 balls (two fours, two sixes), was dismissed, Asalanka was joined by Wanindu. The duo frustrated the Afghanistan bowlers further by sharing a 50-run stand in only 31 balls before Hasaranga was dismissed in the last ball of the innings while Asalanka remained unbeaten on 97 runs made in just 74 balls that included nine boundaries and two sixes, and Sri Lanka ended their innings with a formidable score of 308 for 6.