Colombo: In a commanding display of cricket prowess, Sri Lanka clinched a resounding 10-wicket victory over Afghanistan in their Only Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Prabath Jayasuriya emerged as the star performer, showcasing exceptional bowling skills to dismantle the Afghan batting lineup.
Jayasuriya’s spectacular performance saw him claim 5 wickets in the second innings, finishing with impressive figures of 47-10-107-5. The left-arm bowler also made a significant impact in the first innings, securing 3 wickets and accumulating match figures of 72-17-174-8.
The turning point of the match occurred on Day 3 when Afghanistan, trailing by 42 runs with nine wickets remaining in their first innings, had a chance for a comeback. Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten century (101) and Rahmat Shah’s steady innings provided hope. However, Sri Lanka, led by Jayasuriya, staged a remarkable turnaround, bundling out Afghanistan for 97 runs in 34.2 overs.
Fast bowlers Asitha Fernando (3 wickets) and Kasun Rajitha (2 wickets) joined forces with Jayasuriya to ensure Afghanistan could only muster 296 runs in their second innings.
Chasing a modest target of 56, Sri Lanka adopted an attacking approach. Nishan Madushka and Dimuth Karunaratne formed an unbeaten partnership of 56 runs in just 7.2 overs, guiding Sri Lanka to victory without losing a wicket. Karunaratne remained unbeaten on 32, hitting leg-spinner Qais Ahmad for consecutive fours to seal the win.
The convincing triumph sets the stage for the upcoming ODI series between the two teams, commencing on February 9 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka will aim to carry the momentum from their Test victory into the limited-overs format as both sides look forward to an exciting series ahead.