Sri Lanka Whitewashes Afghanistan 3-0 with Emphatic Seven-Wicket Win in Final ODI
Sri Lanka cruised to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the third and final ODI on Wednesday, completing a resounding 3-0 series whitewash on home soil.
Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, fresh off his double-century in the first match, continued his red-hot form with a match-winning 117 (101b, 2×6, 16×4).
He shared a scintillating 173-run opening stand with Avishka Fernando (91, 66b, 5×6, 10×4) to lay the foundation for Sri Lanka’s chase of 267.
Nissanka, named Player of the Match and Series, finished the series with a record-breaking 346 runs, the highest total by a Sri Lankan in a three-match ODI series.
Afghanistan Falters After Strong Start
Earlier, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bat, but his side was bowled out for 266 with nine deliveries remaining.
The openers provided a promising start, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers fought back consistently, with Pramod Madushan (3-45) and Dunith Wellalage (2-38) leading the way.
Sri Lanka Cruises to Victory
Chasing 267, Sri Lanka never looked back after the dominant opening partnership. Nissanka anchored the chase, while Kusal Mendis (40) provided further impetus.
Despite losing wickets at intervals, the hosts chased down the target with 14.4 overs to spare, securing a comprehensive series victory.
“We are at a better place as a team,” said Nissanka after the match. “These are very good wickets that we are playing on. We didn’t get these kind of surfaces to bat on previously.”
He also expressed his delight at scoring the fastest 2,000 ODI runs for Sri Lanka and achieving the highest run total in a three-match series.
This 3-0 whitewash marks a significant achievement for Sri Lanka, showcasing their strength in home conditions and the emergence of key players like Nissanka.
Afghanistan, despite a promising start, will be disappointed with their inability to convert good starts into substantial totals. The series serves as a learning experience for the young Afghan team as they continue to strive for consistency in international cricket.
Both teams now move to Kandy for 3-match T20I series which starts from Saturday.
