Afghanistan vs SL 3rd ODI Colombo — Charith Asalanka's 94 Saved the SL Whitewash

Sri Lanka walked into the third ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on May 19 facing the prospect of an unprecedented home ODI whitewash by Afghanistan. The first two matches had gone 100-run and 31-run defeats. The Colombo dressing room had been quiet. The captain Charith Asalanka had not made a fifty in either match. The third ODI was the kind of match where pride alone is the motivator. Asalanka made 94 off 89 to drag Sri Lanka to 269. Afghanistan's chase fell apart in the middle overs and Sri Lanka won by 38 runs. The 2-1 series result is a consolation, but a meaningful one.

Phase one: the Sri Lanka batting reshuffle

The team meeting before the third ODI made two changes. First, Pathum Nissanka was promoted to open at the expense of Dimuth Karunaratne, who was rested for the match. Second, Dasun Shanaka was promoted to four to add hitting power in the middle overs.

The reshuffle paid off in the first ten overs. Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando added 47 for the first wicket in 9 overs. The run rate was steady. Then Avishka fell to Mohammad Nabi for 28 and Kusal Mendis followed two overs later. Sri Lanka were 67 for 2 in the 13th over with Pathum and Asalanka at the crease.

What the numbers say

Asalanka's 94 broke into three phases. Phase one (balls 1-30): 24 runs at strike rate 80, two boundaries. Phase two (balls 31-60): 33 runs at strike rate 110, three boundaries. Phase three (balls 61-89): 37 runs at strike rate 132.1, two sixes and three fours.

The matchup splits against the Afghanistan attack: against Rashid Khan 16 off 18, against Mohammad Nabi 21 off 22, against Mujeeb Ur Rahman 19 off 16, against Fazalhaq Farooqi 18 off 17, against Naveen-ul-Haq 20 off 16. The Rashid matchup was the surprise — Asalanka had been the easiest Sri Lankan wicket for Rashid in the previous two matches.

The over he broke 16 from

The 35th over of the Sri Lanka innings was bowled by Rashid Khan. Asalanka was on 39 not out. Rashid's first ball was the wrong'un — Asalanka picked it from the hand, came down the track, and hit over wide long-on for six. The second ball was the leg-break — Asalanka slog-swept for four through deep midwicket. The third ball was a leg-break flatter and quicker — Asalanka reverse-swept for one. The fourth ball was the top-spinner — Asalanka pushed for one. The fifth ball was the wrong'un again — Asalanka stepped out and hit over long-off for four.

The over went for 16. Rashid's economy in the match climbed from 3.4 to 4.2 in one over. Asalanka had read the wrong'un trap.

The lower-order partnerships

After Asalanka the lower order gave Sri Lanka more than they had managed in the previous two matches. Dasun Shanaka made 38 off 31 in the seventh-wicket partnership of 56. Maheesh Theekshana, batting at eight, finished 18 not out off 12. The death overs from 45 to 50 added 49 runs.

Sri Lanka finished on 269 for 7 in 50 overs. The total was 30 above par for the venue and 50 above the previous two SL totals in the series.

The Afghanistan chase

Afghanistan's chase started well. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran added 71 in the first 10 overs. The run rate was 7.1. Then Wanindu Hasaranga was brought on in the 11th over and the chase changed character.

Hasaranga had been quiet in the previous two matches — 1 for 56 and 0 for 41. The Colombo match was his return. He bowled Gurbaz for 38 in his second over with a wrong'un that gripped. Ibrahim Zadran fell to a top-spinner in the next over. Rahmat Shah was caught at slip off the stock leg-spinner. Hashmatullah Shahidi was bowled by the googly. Hasaranga had four wickets in eight overs.

Afghanistan were 142 for 5 in the 27th over and the chase was effectively over. Mohammad Nabi made 41 and Najibullah Zadran made 28 in a late stand, but the asking rate climbed past nine and the chase fell short by 38 runs.

What it means for Sri Lanka

The 2-1 series result avoids the whitewash and gives Sri Lanka a positive note heading into the Asia Cup 2027 build-up. The Charith Asalanka captaincy review will be held in early June, but the Colombo win likely keeps him in the role through the Asia Cup home cycle.

Wanindu Hasaranga's comeback from a quiet two-match spell is the wider read. He took 5 for 39 in Colombo — the matchup against Gurbaz was decided by the wrong'un that Gurbaz could not read this time. The 28-year-old leg-spinner is still Sri Lanka's wicket-taking option in the middle overs.

The forward view

Sri Lanka host New Zealand in July for a three-match ODI series. The Hasaranga comeback will be tested again. Afghanistan head home for a short break before the West Indies tour in late June.

The Asia Cup 2027 in February will have Sri Lanka as hosts. The home team will need to find a stable top-order. Pathum Nissanka as opener was the change that worked at Colombo and may be retained.

What to watch next: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 3rd ODI series in July — Hasaranga's second consecutive comeback opportunity.

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