115/10 (17.0)
CR : 6.76
187/6 (20.0)
CR : 9.35
Sri Lanka won by 72 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Angelo Mathews
2/942(22)
10:18 PM IST, Local Time: That’s it. Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 72 runs in the second T20I and take an unassailable lead in the three-match series. Their batters set up things beautifully by posting a formidable total on the board before their bowlers stepped up and knocked over Afghanistan.
Chasing 188, Afghanistan got off to a disastrous start. Angelo Mathews dismissed Hazratullah Zazai (1) in the very first over. In-form Ibrahim Zadran (10) fell to give Mathews his second. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (13) was looking good before getting trapped in front of the stumps by Maheesh Theekshana. Gulbadin Naib (4) and Azmatullah Omarzai (0) fell in a single over as Afghanistan were reduced to 31/5.
Mohammad Nabi along with Karim Janat tried to resurrect the innings and stitched 39 between them before the former fell on 27. Janat hit some lusty blows but he lacked support from the other end. He was dismissed on 28 and the Afghans got bundled out on 115 in 17 overs as they lost the game by 72 runs. Mathews, Binura Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana grabbed two scalps each as they defended the total successfully.
Earlier, Sri Lanka were asked to bat first and they got off to a flying start. Pathum Nissanka (25) and Kusal Mendis (23) put a quickfire 45 between them before both fell in quick succession. Sadeera Samarawickrama looked good at the crease. Dhananjaya de Silva departed after scoring a run-a-ball 14. Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga was dismissed after playing a cameo of 22 off nine balls.
Samarawickrama held the innings nicely from one end and Angelo Mathews joined him as both went berserk in the death overs. Both Samarawickrama (51) and Mathews (42*) put 66 between them off just 34 balls to power Sri Lanka to 187/6 at the end of their 20 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi picked up two wickets each for Afghanistan but the former was on the expensive side. Their batters then faltered and failed to chase it down.
Chasing 188, Afghanistan got off to a disastrous start. Angelo Mathews dismissed Hazratullah Zazai (1) in the very first over. In-form Ibrahim Zadran (10) fell to give Mathews his second. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (13) was looking good before getting trapped in front of the stumps by Maheesh Theekshana. Gulbadin Naib (4) and Azmatullah Omarzai (0) fell in a single over as Afghanistan were reduced to 31/5.
Mohammad Nabi along with Karim Janat tried to resurrect the innings and stitched 39 between them before the former fell on 27. Janat hit some lusty blows but he lacked support from the other end. He was dismissed on 28 and the Afghans got bundled out on 115 in 17 overs as they lost the game by 72 runs. Mathews, Binura Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana grabbed two scalps each as they defended the total successfully.
Earlier, Sri Lanka were asked to bat first and they got off to a flying start. Pathum Nissanka (25) and Kusal Mendis (23) put a quickfire 45 between them before both fell in quick succession. Sadeera Samarawickrama looked good at the crease. Dhananjaya de Silva departed after scoring a run-a-ball 14. Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga was dismissed after playing a cameo of 22 off nine balls.
Samarawickrama held the innings nicely from one end and Angelo Mathews joined him as both went berserk in the death overs. Both Samarawickrama (51) and Mathews (42*) put 66 between them off just 34 balls to power Sri Lanka to 187/6 at the end of their 20 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi picked up two wickets each for Afghanistan but the former was on the expensive side. Their batters then faltered and failed to chase it down.
Wanindu Hasaranga completes 100 T20I wickets.
Player of the Match: Angelo Mathews
Angelo Mathews (Player of the Match): “Yeah. Feeling pretty good. Obviously, I got some tightness in the hamstring in the last game. But happy to walk out for the game and felt pretty good. Whatever the team management wants me to do, I’m happy with it.
I was struggling a bit early in the innings but Sadeera also played really well. That was the plan for him to bat till the 17th or 18th over. But I thought his innings helped me a lot. He was holding one end and it helped me finish on a high. We had to bowl good lines and lengths and did well while defending the total
Also, a big thanks to the Dambulla crowd. It was a sell-out in the first two games and a big thanks to everyone."
I was struggling a bit early in the innings but Sadeera also played really well. That was the plan for him to bat till the 17th or 18th over. But I thought his innings helped me a lot. He was holding one end and it helped me finish on a high. We had to bowl good lines and lengths and did well while defending the total
Also, a big thanks to the Dambulla crowd. It was a sell-out in the first two games and a big thanks to everyone."
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan Skipper): “To be honest, I’m happy with the decision. We were good in the first 10-15 overs. The plan that was given to the bowlers, they failed to execute and we also failed to execute the plans while batting.
We were trying to have a good start in the powerplay. If you look at the ground, it’s pretty big. We were looking to get a good start and have some momentum and get to 180.
There is no difference in the wicket that we played in the first T20I. It’s about the mind in cricket. If we execute plans well, we will get the results.”
We were trying to have a good start in the powerplay. If you look at the ground, it’s pretty big. We were looking to get a good start and have some momentum and get to 180.
There is no difference in the wicket that we played in the first T20I. It’s about the mind in cricket. If we execute plans well, we will get the results.”
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka Skipper): “Of course, credit goes to the batters. They batted really well. You know, the openers did a really good job and after that, Sadeera and Angelo finished well. If we get past 170, I trust my bowlers to defend it.
(About getting to 100 T20I wickets) Still a long way to go. But I trust my variations and I want to do well for the team.
I want to test our bench strength. We have four games left before the T20 World Cup, we want to prepare well.”
(About getting to 100 T20I wickets) Still a long way to go. But I trust my variations and I want to do well for the team.
I want to test our bench strength. We have four games left before the T20 World Cup, we want to prepare well.”
That brings an end to our coverage for this game. Keep joining us for more cricketing action all around the globe. For now, this is Akshay Bhide, signing off, on behalf of my co-commentator Deepak Prakash and scorer Chandan Kr Singh. Tata. Bye Bye.