Berliner Tageszeitung - Three weddings and a win as Sri Lanka level ODI series

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Three weddings and a win as Sri Lanka level ODI series

SPORTS 30.11.2022

Newly-wed Charith Asalanka battled cramps in his unbeaten 83 to lead Sri Lanka's thrilling four-wicket win over Afghanistan in the third one-day international and end the series level at 1-1 on Wednesday.

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Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran's record 162 -- the highest individual score for the Afghans -- went in vain after he steered the tourists to 313-8 in Pallekele.

Sri Lanka were in trouble at 249-6 in the record chase at the venue, but the left-handed pair of Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage put on an unbeaten stand of 65 to steer the team home with two balls to spare.

The island nation kept up their hopes of earning a direct entry into next year's ODI World Cup in India with crucial 10 Super League points from the win.

Asalanka, struggling with cramps during the later half of his 72-ball knock, hit the winning six as the home crowd erupted in joy.

Asalanka was one of the three Sri Lankan players alongside fast bowler Kasun Rajitha and opener Pathum Nissanka to get married in separate ceremonies in Colombo on Monday -- a day after the second match which was rained off.

"Charith did outstanding, and he's a great finisher," skipper Dasun Shanaka said of his man of the match performer Asalanka.

"Dunith, whenever he comes on to the field, he has tended to deliver for us, not with the ball today, but with the bat."

Wellalage, 19, also kept his calm in his 31 off 21 balls as he smashed Gulbadin Naib for three fours in the 49th over to take some pressure off Asalanka, who refused many doubles as he hopped around.

Other newly-weds Rajitha returned figures of 3-60 and Nissanka scored a key 35 and put on an opening stand of 101 with Kusal Mendis (67).

- Ibrahim stands tall -

Afghan spin wizard Rashid Khan returned figures of 4-37.

After a strong start by Mendis and Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal and Shanaka also made useful contributions of 33 and 43.

Asalanka then put on a 79-run stand with Shanaka as the duo mixed the right dose of caution and aggression.

Rashid broke through to get Shanaka bowled with a googly that rattled the stumps and soon struck his fourth blow as Wanindu Hasaranga walked back caught behind for two before Asalanka and Wellalage took over.

"It was a good experience playing here, Sri Lanka are tough team in their home conditions, but very happy with the good cricket we played," skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said of his team's first ever ODI bi-lateral series with Sri Lanka.

Ibrahim, 20, stood out for Afghanistan, who had earned their automatic qualification for the World Cup with the previous rained off match, with 278 runs including a match-winning 106 in the opener.

He put on 154 runs with the left-handed Najibullah Zadran, who made 77, to rebuild the Afghan innings after three early wickets and put Sri Lanka on the back foot.

The effort was Afghanistan's best fourth-wicket partnership, breaking a 2013 record of 144 between Nawroz Mangal and Samiullah Shinwari against Scotland.

It was Ibrahim's third century in just his eighth ODI and surpassed Afghanistan's previous top score of 131 not out by Mohammad Shahzad.

Ibrahim stood firm to take on the bowlers as he surpassed his previous best of an unbeaten 121 before departing on the final ball of the innings.

He hit 15 fours and four sixes in his 138-ball knock.

C. Fournier--BTZ