Sri Lanka crushes Afghanistan by 155 runs in the second One-Day International to seal the series at Pallekele, From 143-2 to 153 all out

Afghanistan was bowled out for 153 in 34 overs, despite having set a goal of 309 to tie the series. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the standout player with four wickets.

Sri Lanka took a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series after defeating Afghanistan by 155 runs in Sunday’s second One-Day International.

Afghanistan was bowled out for 153 in 34 overs, despite having set a goal of 309 to tie the series. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the standout player with four wickets.Afghanistan was on track to reach its objective at 128 for one, but with the dismissals of Ibrahim Zadran (63), and Rahmat Shah (54) there was no resistance from the remaining batters.

Asitha Fernando, who was playing in his first ODI in fifteen months, gave the breakthrough by catching Ibrahim behind after the two had put up 97 runs for the second wicket.

The skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, was bowled by leg-spinner Hasaranga, who then produced two wickets in an over by trapping Rahmat leg-before-wicket.
Seamers Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka each finished with two wickets each, providing Hasaranga with support.

With eight wickets lost for ten runs, Afghanistan crumbled as Sri Lanka dominated in the night conditions.
Charith Asalanka’s undefeated century of 97 runs was the catalyst for Sri Lanka’s run chase of more than 300 runs.

The vice captain of Sri Lanka took part in two significant partnerships. In the first, he and Janith Liyanage (50) added 111 runs off 98 balls for the fifth wicket.

After that, Hasaranga and I shared a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket off of 32 balls.
In the final ten overs, Asalanka amassed 62 runs in 35 balls and ended the innings undefeated at 97, which he reached off 74 balls with nine fours and two sixes.
With just 36 runs scored after losing their opening pair, Sri Lanka had a bad start.

Half-centuries were made by captain Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who also shared a 103-run partnership for the third wicket.

Both batters gave up on bad pitches.
Mendis took on the deep mid-wicket defender but was unable to clear him, and Samarawickrama smashed one straight to mid-wicket.

With three wickets in the end, Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan’s best bowler.
Afghanistan lost a lot of games because of their careless play, which included up to five receptions lost.
At the same location on Wednesday, the third and final ODI will take place.

The host won the one Test of the tour by a margin of ten wickets. Three Twenty20 matches, all held in Dambulla, will take place after the current series.