Gurbaz, spinners secure Afghanistan’s victory

Sri Lanka fought back until the last ball, but it was in vain as Afghanistan recorded a thrilling 3-run win in the third T-20 game played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.Sri Lanka clinched the series 2-1, showing consistent form. Controversy arose over the fourth ball of the last over, a contentious no-ball full toss. Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga voiced disappointment over its non-call post-game.

Kamindu Mendis, who played his first game yesterday, made an unbeaten 65 runs in 39 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes, while opener Pathum Nissanka, retired hurt at 60 runs in 30 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes, raised high expectations to chase the total of 210. Sri Lanka’s middle-order batters couldn’t muster enough strength, and Afghan bowlers dominated the game to secure their first win of the series.

The last over, bowled by paceman Wafadar Momand, saw Sri Lankan pair Akila Dananjaya and Kamindu Mendis needing 19 runs to win. The final over drama decided the win. The first ball saw Kamindu hitting a boundary, but he couldn’t score on the second ball. The third ball once again raised hopes as Kamindu hit a short fine leg boundary, but the fourth ball of the last over was a very unfortunate high full toss on middle and off, yet the umpires remained unmoved to give a no-ball, prompting the crowd to shout in protest. However, the fifth ball was called wide, and with two balls remaining, they needed ten runs. Unfortunately, the fifth ball was a dot ball, and Mendis finished the game with a mid-wicket six, but Sri Lanka fell three runs short.

Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was named the man of the match, while Sri Lanka skipper Wanindu Hasaranga was adjudged the player of the series.Afghanistan won the toss third consecutive time and elected to bat first. The openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz made a brisk start adding 82 in 44 balls in 7.2 overs. Gurbaz was dropped by Akila Dananjaya at 22 but Dananjaya himself was lucky to get the first breakthrough dismissing Zazai who was LBW for 45 in 27 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.

They completed fifty runs in just 4 overs, while after the power play (first six overs), they were 72 for no loss, and Sri Lankan bowlers were under pressure.Gurbaz completed his fifty in 28 balls with 6 fours and a six, joined by skipper Ibrahim Zadran, who once again continued their innings but was dismissed after scoring 10 runs in 9 balls, and Akila accounted for his second wicket.Rahmanullah Gurbaz made his usual powerful innings of 70 runs in 43 balls with 7 fours and a six, while Azmatullah Omarzai hit 31 runs in 23 balls with 3 fours. Mohammed Nabi and debutant Mohammad Ishaq hit unbeaten 16 runs each, guiding to a good total. After 15 overs, Afghanistan were 154 for 3 wickets, and they added 55 runs in the last five overs to reach a challenging total of 209 for 5 wickets, which is the highest team total of this series.

The overall performance of the Sri Lankan side, in terms of fielding and bowling, was not up to expectations. They dropped a few catches, bowled too many short balls and full deliveries at the start, and gave away a host of extras, especially from two seamers, Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara, as Afghan batters displayed good batting during their quota of 20 overs. Matheesha Pathirana and Akila Dhananjaya took two wickets each, while skipper Wanindu Hasaranga took 1 for 35. Nuwan Thushara gave away 48 runs in his four-over spell without taking a wicket.

Sri Lanka made four changes for this third game, with Kamindu Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Thushara, and Kusal Janith Perera coming into the side, resting deputy skipper Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, and Binura Fernando, while Afghanistan also made four changes, and debutant wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq, all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, and seamers Fareed Ahmed and Wafadar Momand came into the side.

Chief scores

Afghanistan 209 for 5 wickets in 20 overs: Hazratullah Zazai 45, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 70, Ibrahim Zadran 10, Azmatullah Omarzai 31, Mohammed Nabi 16*, Mohammad Ishaq 16*; Matheesha Pathirana 2/42, Akila Dananjaya 2/37, Wanindu Hasaranga 1/35.

Sri Lanka 206 for 6 wickets in 20 overs Pathum Nissanka 60 (retired hurt), Kusal Mendis 16, Wanindu Hasaranga 13, Sadeera Samarawickrama 23, Kamindu Mendis 65*, Dasun Shanaka 13, Mohammed Nabi 2/35, Noor Ahmed 1/37

( Source : Daily News)