SL VS AFG - 3rd T20I, Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka, 2024

So that draws the curtains on this tour of Afghanistan to Sri Lanka. The visitors batted brilliantly today and got enough runs to keep Sri Lanka just about out of reach. They have avoided a whitewash in the process. Both teams will take plenty of positives from this series, specially with that World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States not too far away now. We'll continue to keep bringing all the cricketing action to you, but bye for now!!

Hasaranga takes a moment to thank the crowd while speaking in Sinhalese. After he's done talking, a loud cheer breaks out. Now the Sri Lankan team line up for a photograph, very measured celebrations.

Wanindu Hasaranga | Player of the Series and Sri Lanka Captain: We played really well first two games. Credit goes to our bowlers. We want to see how everyone performs, that's why we made 4 changes. Our bowlers did a good job and Chameera will also be coming back now after injury.

Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan Captain: Happy with the win, sad that we lost the series. It was a good total today. We wanted to play positive and carry the momentum throughout the game. (On team changes) I think it was tactical, we wanted to give everyone chances ahead of the T20 World Cup. We played well in the first game, but lost by a close margin. Today we managed to win so there are a lot of postive to take from this series.

R Gurbaz | Player of the Match: Pleased with the knock. Was going through a hard time, hadn't score but today I played freely. The coach told me to stick to my natural game, and today I wanted to take the responsibility for the side. I don't mind batting first or chasing. I'm happy we learnt from our mistakes and didn't make the same ones today.

22:41 Local Time, 17:11 GMT, 22:41 IST: A thriller in Dambulla to close out this series, and Afghanistan got a bit of the rub from the green to get them over the line. Sri Lanka would feel hard done by that full toss in the last over that should have been called no ball, but in all fairness their tepid batting in the middle overs is probably what cost them. Chasing a lofty total, the hosts got a solid start as Nissanka attacked Wafadar Momand in the powerplay. Kusal Mendis fell after a six and a four, as Nissanka went on to score a fifty. He felt like hamstring shortly after and had to walk out the pitch, as Afghanistan fought back with their spinners in the middle overs. Nabi picked the wickets of Hasaranga and Mathews, while concussion sub Qais Ahmed delivered two crucial overs. Sri Lanka always kept themselves in the contest with Samarawickrama and then Kamindu Mendis scoring the runs. Mendis got a fifty and stayed unbeaten till the end, but the target proved to be too stiff. Back shortly with the presentations...

Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis, SIX, slower length ball, Mendis clears his front leg and smokes it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Sri Lanka fall short by 3 runs, Afghanistan avoid the whitewash. That last over no ball which wasn't given is going to be a point of discussion long through the night tonight...

Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis, no run, Mendis kicks the pitch in frustration. A full delivery on leg that deflects towards deep backward square leg off a thick inside edge. That should settle the game!

Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis, wide, bouncer, over Mendis and called wide this time

Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis, no run, big, probably controversial moment in the game!! A full toss, felt like a beamer that angles across the batter. A swing and a miss for Kamindu Mendis and he looks towards the umpire expecting a no ball for height. No reaction from the umpire but replays show that was clearly over waist despite Mendis being out his crease. The batter does gesture asking for a review but he's probably too late, we continue with that being a fair delivery.

Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis, FOUR, slower delivery onto leg stump, Mendis shuffled in, waited and then ramped it to the left of short fine for a boundary. Sri Lanka still in the hunt...

Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis, no run, low full toss that goes under the bat and thuds onto the back pad. Impact outside leg though, Afghanistan lose a review

Review taken by Afghanistan. More in hope than expectation with just five balls to go. Impact outside leg

Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis, FOUR, full on leg stump, Mendis clears his legs for a slog, gets an inside edge through his legs and also through the legs of Karim Janat at short fine. A boundary to begin the final over

Wafadar Momand [2.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack

A big captaincy call from Zadran to give the final over to Wafadar Momand who is new to this team

Last over. 19 runs to get. The crowd is behind Kamindu Mendis, can he take Lanka home?

Azmatullah to Dananjaya, FOUR, short and angling across, Akila Dananjaya with a superb slap to the right of mid-off that runs away for four. A valuable first ball boundary

Akila Dananjaya, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Azmatullah to Shanaka, out Shanaka Run Out!! 1 run completed Big blow, does that settle the match? A short delivery that kept rising on Shanaka. He skews his pull towards mid-wicket and tries to scamper back for the second but Nabi from the boundary is quick to get to the ball and throw towards the keeper. Shanaka short of his crease despite the dive, Sri Lanka lose their 6th wicket. Shanaka run out (Nabi/Mohammad Ishaq) 13(8) [4s-1 6s-1]