Afghanistan, who needed to reach 309 wickets to tie the series, was dismissed for 153 in just 34 overs thanks to a brilliant four wickets from leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
After defeating Afghanistan by 155 runs in the second One-Day International on Sunday, Sri Lanka took a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
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.
Playing his first ODI in fifteen months, Asitha Fernando gave the breakthrough by catching Ibrahim behind after the two had put up 97 runs for the second wicket.
Hasaranga, a leg-spinner, then claimed two wickets in an over when he caught Rahmat leg-before-wicket, leading to the dismissal of skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi.
Seamers Dilshan Madushanka and Fernando supported Hasaranga, with the former taking two wickets in an over.
Under the lights, Sri Lanka dominated and Afghanistan crumbled, losing eight wickets for ten runs.
Sri Lanka was able to reach above 300 runs thanks to Charith Asalanka’s undefeated century of 97 runs.
In the first partnership, the vice skipper of Sri Lanka and Janith Liyanage (50) added 111 runs off 98 balls for the fifth wicket.
With Hasaranga, a 50-run stand off 32 balls ensued for the sixth wicket.
Asalanka ended the game unbeaten at 97, having struck 97 off 74 balls with nine fours and two sixes. He had scored 62 runs in 35 balls in the final 10 overs.
After losing their opening pair with 36 runs scored, Sri Lanka had a bad start.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and captain Kusal Mendis shared a third wicket partnership of 103 runs, with both players scoring half-centuries.
Bad pitches caused both batters to fall.
While Mendis attempted to clear the deep mid-wicket fielder but was unable, Samarawickrama smacked one straight to mid-wicket.
With three wickets in the end, Afghanistan’s best bowler was Azmatullah Omarzai.
Afghanistan lost a lot of games because of their careless play on the field, missing as many as five receptions.
On Wednesday, the third and final ODI will take place at the same location.
The host side prevailed by ten wickets in the only Test of the tour. There will be three Twenty20 matches in Dambulla after the current series.
