• Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan in the 2nd ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium to bag the series.

  • Charith Asalanka was named Player of the Match for his exceptional innings.

Twitter reactions: Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga’s heroics propel Sri Lanka to a series-clinching victory over Afghanistan in the 2nd ODI
Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga (Image Source: Twitter)

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Sri Lanka asserted their supremacy, sealing the three-match series against Afghanistan with an authoritative 155 runs win in the second ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 11, Sunday. The victory was shaped by a combination of Charith Asalanka‘s impactful batting and Wanindu Hasaranga‘s brilliant bowling, showcasing Sri Lanka’s prowess in all facets of the game.

Solid partnerships lay the foundation for Sri Lanka’s innings

The Sri Lankan innings unfolded with a dynamic mix of solid partnerships and individual brilliance. Pathum Nissanka set the tone with a brisk 18 off 17 balls, laying the foundation for the middle order. Despite Avishka Fernando‘s failure with the bat Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with a sturdy 61, and Sadeera Samarawickrama contributed a valuable 52.

Charith Asalanka’s remarkable batting

However, the standout performance came from Charith Asalanka, falling agonizingly short of a century with a dazzling 97 off 74 balls. His innings injected vitality and flair, featuring a blend of classical shots and aggressive strokeplay, including 9 fours and 2 sixes. Janith Liyanage added a significant half-century and Hasaranga provided late-order impetus with 14 runs that took Sri Lanka score to 308/6. Afghanistan’s bowling struggled to contain the onslaught, with Azmatullah Omarzai being the most successful bowler, picking three wickets.

Afghanistan’s uphill battle and Wanindu Hasaranga’s decisive spell

Chasing a challenging target of 309, Afghanistan faced a daunting task against the formidable Sri Lankan bowling attack. Despite Ibrahim Zadran‘s resilience with a hard-fought 54 and Rahmat Shah‘s commendable 63, Sri Lanka’s bowlers were relentless. Despite Afghanistan being 143/2 at one stage, Hasaranga’s dangerous spell turned the tide decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.

Also READ: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, ODI series: Date, Match Time, Venue, Squads, Broadcast and Live Streaming details

His variations, control, and ability to pick up wickets at crucial junctures dismantled the Afghan middle order. Hasaranga’s final figures of 4 wickets for 27 runs in 6.5 overs underscored his match-winning impact. Dilshan Madushanka and Asitha Fernando scalped 2 wickets eac, and Pramod Madushan chipped in with a wicket. The Sri Lankan bowlers dismantled the Afghan batting order with precision, restricting them to 153/10 in 33.5 overs.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also READ: SL vs AFG 2024: Afghanistan’s best playing XI for the ODI series against Sri Lanka

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