Sri Lanka’s middle order led by Charith Asalanka piled on a second successive 300-plus total following which Afghanistan imploded in their chase, as the hosts secured a 155-run win in the second ODI in Pallekele, and with it the three-match series with one game still to go.
In chase of the 309-run target set by Sri Lanka, the visitors had seemingly set themselves up well for a late charge, particularly when Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah were in the midst of their 97-run second wicket stand. But once Asitha Fernando had Ibrahim strangled down leg, the Afghan innings went into free fall.
They proceeded to lose their next eight wickets for just 25 runs as Sri Lanka brought the innings to a close inside 34 overs.
Wanidu Hasaranga grabbed figures of 4 for 27, while Asitha Fernando – playing his first ODI in over a year – and Dilshan Madushanka had two apiece. Pramod Madushan too finished with one to his name.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 308 for 6 in 50 overs (Charith Asalanka 97*, Kusal Mendis 61, Sadeera Samarawickrema 52, Janith Liyanage 50; Azmatullah Omarzai 3-56) beat Afghanistan 153 in 33.5 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 54, Rahmat Shah 63; Dilshan Madushanka 2-28, Asitha Fernando 2-23, Wanidu Hasaranga 4-27) by 153 runs
