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In an electrifying encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last ball, Afghanistan's tour of Sri Lanka saw them enduring a heart-stopping defeat in the first T20I match at Dambulla on Saturday, February 17. The gripping match concluded with Afghanistan falling short by just 4 runs, unable to chase down the crucial 14 runs in the final 12 deliveries.
Matheesha Pathirana changes the match on its head
Sri Lanka's young sensation, Matheesha Pathirana, emerged as the hero of the day, delivering a spellbinding performance in the death overs. His exceptional bowling prowess was on full display as he secured 3 of his 4 wickets during the critical closing stages, propelling Sri Lanka to a victorious start in the series' final leg.
In the penultimate over of the match when the pressure was palpable, Pathirana held his nerve and bowled a game-changing over. The right-arm unorthodox seamer conceded just three runs in the over and bagged two wickets.
Despite Afghanistan's efforts to build momentum with two significant partnerships at the second and sixth wickets, Pathirana's lethal deliveries thwarted their chase, leaving them at 156/9 in 20 overs.
Pathirana's economical spell of just 24 runs across four overs not only clinched him four wickets but also earned him the Player of the Match title, a testament to his match-winning contribution.
Ibrahim Zadran's perplexing knock
Afghanistan's captain Ibrahim Zadran, showcased resilience as he anchored the innings with a stellar 67 not out off 55 balls. However, his valiant effort wasn't enough to guide his team across the finish line. The final over, bowled by Binura Fernando, became the climax of the thriller, with Afghanistan needing 11 runs for victory.
Zadran faced all six deliveries but couldn't take his team to the promised land. He played four consecutive dots and sealed Afghanistan's defeat. A consolation boundary in the last moments was insufficient to overturn the outcome.
Wanindu Hasaranga displays all-round might
Earlier, Sri Lanka's innings was bolstered by a dazzling half-century from captain Wanindu Hasaranga, who smashed 50 runs off just 24 balls, rallying his team to a competitive total. Despite early setbacks, Hasaranga's explosive 67 runs off 32 balls was pivotal in setting a challenging target for Afghanistan. Hasaranga also made his mark with the ball, conceding a mere 20 runs and taking a key wicket, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka's win.
Sri Lanka failed to bat out their entire quota of 20 overs as they were bundled out for 160 runs in 19 overs. However, Hasaranga's belligerence gave the Sri Lankan bowlers enough runs to defend.
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