Sri Lanka has already confirmed the series by winning the first two matches. Was hoping for a whitewash in the last match as well. But in the third and final T20I, Afghanistan took a consolation victory by 3 runs in a breathless match.
The last two deliveries of the two innings made the difference in the match. The visiting team can score 10 runs in the last two balls of Afghanistan’s batting innings. Sri Lanka needed 10 runs in the last two balls during the run chase. But Kamindu can only take 6 runs. Even that has come to the end! Kamindu Mendis kept the hope of victory alive until the last over in Dambulla with stormy batting.
In the beginning Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive innings of 70 off 43 balls set the stage for a big score for Afghanistan. He added 88 runs with opening partner Hazratullah Zazai. Jazai returned for 45 runs off 22 balls and broke the opening pair. After that, Gurbaz alone decided the course of the innings. After his return, Omarzai contributed 31, Nabi 16 not out. However, 10 runs from the bat of the anointed Mohammad Ishaq in the last two balls proved to be the deciding factor. They got 209 runs for 5 wickets. Ishaq was unbeaten on 16 off 8 balls with 1 four and 1 six.
Akila Dhananjaya took two wickets for 37 runs for Sri Lanka. Mathisha Pathirana also took two for 42 runs.
In reply, Sri Lanka played uphill from the start. Opener Pathum Nissanka’s stormy batting led the way for the hosts. Unfortunately, he scored 60 runs off 30 balls and retired due to a hamstring injury. After that, the match was basically pulled by Kamindu. Despite not winning, this Lankan batsman remained unbeaten on 65 runs off 39 balls. His storming innings had 7 fours and 2 sixes. Sri Lanka can finally score 206 runs for 6 wickets. Mohammad Nabi took two wickets for 35 runs for Afghanistan. One each was taken by Farid Ahmed, Noor Ahmed and Kayes Ahmed.
Gurbaz was man of the match in an explosive innings. And Wanindu Hasaranga is the best captain of the series with 102 runs and 4 wickets.
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