Afghanistan win final T20 against Sri Lanka in thriller

Afghanistan won the third and final T20 match against Sri Lanka by three runs in a nail-biting finish in Dambulla, to end their tour of Sri Lanka on a winning note.

Albeit losing the last match, however, Sri Lanka won the T20 series 2 - 1.

The hosts were set with a target of 210 runs to chase down in 20 overs, but a tepid batting display in the middle overs cost them the game despite having got a solid start as Pathum Nissanka (60*) who attacked Wafadar Momand in the powerplay. Kusal Mendis fell after a six and a four, as Nissanka went on to score a fifty, and later retired hurt after whcih Afghanistan fought back with their spinners in the middle overs.

The visitors, despite putting a mammoth total on the board, began ordinarily with the ball as they conceded too many boundaries first up and allowed the opposition batters to construct a strong opening stand. Fareed Ahmed, though he went for plenty in his second over, saw the back of Kusal Mendis courtesy of a sensational breathtaking catch from Sharafuddin. 

Noor Ahmed was introduced into the attack, and right away he got rid of Kusal Perera off a peach of a delivery on his very second ball and exerted pressure on the hosts after an ordinary Powerplay. Noor Ahmed and Mohammad Nabi continued to bowl in tandem and bowled some decent overs without conceding too many which bore fruit for Noor Ahmed as he managed to dismiss Kusal Perera, and Mohammad Nabi too joined the party as he got rid of the dangerous Wanindu Hasaranga and finished off his spell with a 2-wicket haul. 

Qais Ahmed, who was brought in as a concussion sub, picked a very crucial scalp of Sadeera and exerted more pressure on the opposition. The spin trio of Nabi, Noor, and Qais managed to contain the Lankan batters and in the end, Karim Janat and Wafadar Momand somehow cleaned up successfully in the end and helped Afghanistan to register the first win of this tour to Sri Lanka across the formats.