Sri Lanka secured a dramatic three-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a thrilling T20 international at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday evening. The hosts, chasing a daunting target of 180, prevailed with just two balls to spare, courtesy of a late flurry from Wanindu Hasaranga, who smashed an unbeaten 25 off 10 deliveries. Afghanistan, who won the toss and elected to bat first, posted a competitive 179 for 5, with Hazratullah Zazai top-scoring with 64 off 44 balls. The victory extends Sri Lanka’s unbeaten streak in the ongoing series to three matches, with one encounter ending in a no-result due to rain. The final match of the five-game series is scheduled for tomorrow at the same venue.
Sri Lanka Edges Past Afghanistan in Nail-Biting T20 Encounter
Sri Lanka secured a hard-fought three-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a thrilling T20 international at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The hosts chased down a target of 152 with just two balls to spare, leaving the crowd of 12,000 spectators on the edge of their seats.
Afghanistan had set a challenging target after winning the toss and electing to bat first. The visitors posted 151 for seven in their 20 overs, with captain Gulbadin Naib top-scoring with 42 runs off 32 balls. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets for 19 runs in his four overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost early wickets, with Afghanistan’s paceman Naveen-ul-Haq striking twice in his first over. However, a crucial 68-run partnership between Angelo Mathews and Bhanuka Rajapaksa steadied the innings. Mathews top-scored for Sri Lanka with 47 runs off 38 balls, while Rajapaksa contributed 36 runs off 29 deliveries.
The match turned in the final overs, with Afghanistan’s spinners tightening the screws. But Mathews held his nerve, hitting the winning runs with a six over long-on off Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the final over. The victory extends Sri Lanka’s unbeaten streak in T20 internationals at home to 12 matches.
Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib admitted his side’s fielding let them down. “We had our chances, but we dropped a few catches and missed some run-out opportunities,” he said. “Credit to Sri Lanka, they played well under pressure.”
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka praised his team’s fighting spirit. “It was a tough game, but the boys showed great character,” he said. “We’re happy to come out on top in a close contest.”
Spin Dominates as Sri Lanka Outplays Afghanistan in T20 Showdown
Sri Lanka secured a commanding 52-run victory over Afghanistan in a T20 International at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The hosts, winning the toss, elected to bat first and posted a competitive total of 182 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Afghanistan’s chase began brightly, with openers Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani putting on 48 runs in the powerplay. However, Sri Lanka’s spinners soon took control, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana sharing six wickets between them to derail the Afghan innings.
Hasaranga, the leg-spinner, was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3 for 19 in his four overs. Theekshana, the off-spinner, was equally impressive, taking 3 for 22 in his quota. Their spin dominance restricted Afghanistan to 130 runs all out in 19.3 overs.
Sri Lanka’s batting effort was led by skipper Dasun Shanaka, who scored a quickfire 44 off 28 balls. Kusal Mendis also contributed with a well-compiled 42 off 35 deliveries. Their partnership of 72 runs for the fourth wicket steadied the innings after an early collapse.
Afghanistan’s captain, Mohammad Nabi, admitted that Sri Lanka’s spinners outplayed his team. “They bowled well, especially in the middle overs. We couldn’t build partnerships, and that cost us the game,” he said post-match.
Sri Lanka’s victory consolidates their position at the top of the ongoing T20 series, leading 2-0. The third and final match is scheduled for 10 March at the same venue.
Afghanistan's Fightback Falls Short Against Sri Lanka in T20 Clash
Sri Lanka secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a closely contested T20 international at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The hosts chased down Afghanistan’s total of 157 with just two balls to spare, showcasing a remarkable display of composure under pressure.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a competitive total of 157 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored for the visitors with a swift 45 off 28 balls, while Najibullah Zadran contributed a valuable 38 runs.
The Sri Lankan bowlers put up a spirited performance, with Wanindu Hasaranga claiming three wickets for 29 runs in his four overs. Dushmantha Chameera and Dhananjaya de Silva also made significant contributions, taking two wickets each.
In response, Sri Lanka lost early wickets but staged a remarkable recovery thanks to a crucial partnership between Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga. Rajapaksa scored an unbeaten 43 off 35 balls, while Hasaranga contributed 37 not out off 25 deliveries.
The match reached a nail-biting climax in the final over, with Sri Lanka requiring 14 runs to win. Hasaranga and Rajapaksa displayed exceptional calmness, guiding their team to victory with a six and a boundary in the final over.
Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan expressed disappointment but praised his team’s efforts. “We fought hard, but Sri Lanka played well under pressure,” he said post-match. Sri Lanka’s victory marks a significant step forward in their T20 preparations ahead of the upcoming series against South Africa.
Sri Lanka's Lower Order Delivers Victory Over Afghanistan in T20
Sri Lanka secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a closely contested T20 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The hosts chased down 143 with just two balls to spare, thanks to a late flourish from their lower order.
Afghanistan posted 142 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Hazratullah Zazai top-scoring with 44 off 32 balls. The Afghan innings featured a collapse, with five wickets falling for 32 runs in one phase.
Sri Lanka’s chase was equally dramatic. They lost three wickets for 19 runs early on, but Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 35 off 20 balls steered them home. Shanaka’s innings included two sixes and two fours, turning the tide in the final overs.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi acknowledged Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit. “They showed great character in the end,” Nabi said post-match. “Credit to Shanaka for playing a great innings under pressure.”
Sri Lanka’s victory was their third in as many T20 matches against Afghanistan. The two teams are now set to face each other in a three-match ODI series starting next week.
Thrilling Finish Sees Sri Lanka Triumph Over Afghanistan in T20
Sri Lanka secured a dramatic three-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a thrilling T20 International at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The hosts chased down 159 runs with just two balls to spare, leaving the crowd of 12,000 in jubilant celebration.
Afghanistan posted 158 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 20 overs. Opener Hazratullah Zazai top-scored with 64 runs off 43 balls, including six fours and three sixes. Captain Mohammad Nabi contributed 31 runs off 22 deliveries, providing crucial momentum in the middle overs.
Sri Lanka’s chase began shakily, with the team losing two wickets for just 14 runs. However, captain Dasun Shanaka steadied the innings with a composed knock of 42 runs off 30 balls. Kusal Mendis played a crucial supporting role, scoring an unbeaten 45 runs off 36 deliveries.
The match reached a nail-biting climax in the final over, with Sri Lanka needing 13 runs to win. Shanaka and Mendis displayed remarkable composure, scoring the required runs with two balls to spare. The victory marked Sri Lanka’s third consecutive win in the three-match series, securing a 3-0 whitewash.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi acknowledged the loss but praised his team’s fighting spirit. “We put up a good total, but Sri Lanka played well under pressure,” he said post-match. Sri Lanka’s victory sets the stage for an exciting contest in the upcoming ODI series between the two teams.
Sri Lanka secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over Afghanistan in their T20 International at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Chasing 150, the hosts prevailed in a tense final over, with Wanindu Hasaranga’s unbeaten 34 guiding them home. Earlier, Afghanistan posted 149-7, with Hazratullah Zazai smashing 63 off 37 balls. The win keeps Sri Lanka’s T20 rankings hopes alive ahead of their next match against New Zealand. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look to regroup when they face Bangladesh in their final group game.
