Sports Update : Mendis struck Momand for two fours in the first and third deliveries of the last over, and the bowler was fortunate to avoid a waist-high no-ball in the fourth that the leg umpire missed.
In the third and last Twenty20 international of the day, Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by three runs on Wednesday thanks to the fast bowling of Wafadar Momand, who kept Kamindu Mendis to 19 runs in the final over.
The series was won 2-1 by Sri Lanka.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Afghanistan’s skipper Ibrahim Zadran managed to score 209-5 in 20 overs.
Mendis struck Momand for two fours in the first and third deliveries of the last over, and the bowler was fortunate to avoid a waist-high no-ball in the fourth that the leg umpire missed.
Mendis was three runs short after failing to score on the second-to-last ball and hitting a six, with 10 needed off the final two balls.
With two sixes and seven boundaries in 65 deliveries, Mendis was still undefeated.
Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of Sri Lanka, blasted Lyndon Hannibal, the umpire, for failing to notice a ball higher than the waist and declared him unable to judge international matches.
Hasaranga declared, “This cannot occur in an international match.” It might have been acceptable if it had been closer, but because it was so high, it almost hit the batsman in the head. This umpire should look for another employment because he is unfit to officiate international matches if he is unable to see such a thing.
Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the opening batsmen for Afghanistan, had earlier got off to a fast start, hitting 72 runs in the first five power play overs without losing a wicket.
In the third and last Twenty20 international of the day, Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by three runs on Wednesday thanks to the fast bowling of Wafadar Momand, who kept Kamindu Mendis to 19 runs in the final over.
Sri Lanka won the series 2-1.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Afghanistan’s skipper Ibrahim Zadran managed to score 209-5 in 20 overs.
Mendis struck Momand for two fours in the first and third deliveries of the last over, and the bowler was fortunate to avoid a waist-high no-ball in the fourth that the leg umpire missed.
Mendis was three runs short after failing to score on the second-to-last ball and hitting a six, with 10 needed off the final two balls.
With two sixes and seven boundaries in 65 deliveries, Mendis was still undefeated.
Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of Sri Lanka, blasted Lyndon Hannibal, the umpire, for failing to notice a ball higher than the waist and declared him unable to judge international matches.
Hasaranga declared, “This cannot occur in an international match.” It might have been acceptable if it had been closer, but because it was so high, it almost hit the batsman in the head. This umpire should look for another employment because he is unfit to officiate international matches if he is unable to see such a thing.
Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the opening batsmen for Afghanistan, had earlier got off to a fast start, hitting 72 runs in the first five power play overs without losing a wicket.
Gurbaz put an end to a slump with 70 off 43 deliveries, while Zazai made 45 off 22 deliveries.
The player of the contest was Gurbaz.
For Sri Lanka, fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana and spinner Akila Dananjaya each claimed two wickets.
Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s first batsman, exited the field at 60 due to an injury.
With a partnership of 64 runs for the first wicket, he and Kusal Mendis gave Sri Lanka a strong start. The dismissal of Kusal Mendis (23) and Kusal Perera’s removal without a run when the score reached 65 decelerated Sri Lanka’s progress.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) and Kamindu Mendis combined 53 runs for the fourth wicket to bring Sri Lanka back into the game after Nissanka departed the field at 83.
Afghanistan won their first match of the tour, beating Sri Lanka in the last innings despite losing the one test match and the three-match one-day international series 3-0.