Sri Lanka asserted their dominance over Afghanistan, clinching a commanding ten-wicket victory on the fourth day of the Test match. The triumph unfolded as Sri Lanka efficiently chased down a modest target of 56 runs, showcasing their superiority over the Afghan side. The turning point in the match was Sri Lanka's strategic use of the second new ball, which led to a collapse in Afghanistan's second innings. Commencing the day with only one wicket down and in a promising position, Afghanistan suffered a sudden downturn, losing their remaining nine wickets for a mere 82 runs.
The primary architect of Afghanistan's downfall was left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who delivered a devastating spell of bowling on either side of lunch. His exceptional performance included claiming five crucial wickets, significantly impacting the course of the game. Complementing Jayasuriya's brilliance, seamer Asitha Fernando and pacer Kasun Rajitha contributed with two wickets each, collectively dismantling the Afghan batting lineup.
In the second innings, Afghanistan's hopes were initially buoyed by Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah's promising partnership. However, Sri Lanka's strategic move to take the second new ball after five overs paid dividends. Playing as a concussion substitute for Chamika Gunasekara, Rajitha made an immediate impact by breaking the 108-run stand between Ibrahim and Rahmat. In a pivotal over, Rajitha angled a delivery in, which straightened slightly off the seam, inducing a thin edge from Rahmat and providing a breakthrough.
Jayasuriya, seizing the opportunity with the harder seam, showcased his skill as the ball gripped and leaped off the surface. Despite dropping Ibrahim on 109, Jayasuriya outfoxed the batsman shortly after, exploiting the turning ball to dismiss him. The turning point came in the 90th over when Ibrahim, anticipating spin, played for it, but the delivery went on with the arm, deceiving him and crashing into the off stump. Ibrahim's dismissal marked the end of Afghanistan's most substantial innings in the match, as he added only 13 runs to his overnight score, departing for 114.
The Sri Lankan bowlers continued to exploit the conditions, with Jayasuriya claiming key wickets. Hashmatullah Shahidi fell victim to a delivery that turned, taking his outside edge, while Qais Ahmad was brilliantly caught by Dhananjaya de Silva at slip. Zia-ur-Rehman also succumbed to Jayasuriya's deceptive delivery that continued with the arm, crashing into the off stump for the second time in the match.
Amid Jayasuriya's dominance, Asitha further solidified Sri Lanka's control by dismissing Ikram Alikhil with a well-executed back-of-a-length delivery outside off stump. Alikhil's edge was expertly caught by Kusal Mendis at second slip, showcasing Sri Lanka's prowess in both spin and pace bowling.
Afghanistan witnessed a collapse, losing five wickets for just 13 runs within eight overs. After lunch, Nasir Jamal provided some resistance, contributing an unbeaten 41 runs and displaying a more spirited approach. However, despite his efforts, Sri Lanka's victory seemed inevitable.
Jayasuriya completed his five-wicket haul by dismantling Naveed Zadran's stumps, showcasing his effectiveness throughout the innings. Asitha and Rajitha polished off the tail, securing Sri Lanka's dominance with comprehensive bowling performances.
The Sri Lankan openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka, approached the chase with aggression, mirroring their first-innings display. Together, they swiftly reached the target of 56 runs within eight overs, securing a ten-wicket victory and underscoring Sri Lanka's all-around prowess in the match.
In retrospect, the match highlighted Sri Lanka's astute use of the second new ball, with their bowlers exploiting favorable conditions to dismantle Afghanistan's batting order. Jayasuriya's five-wicket haul emerged as a crucial turning point, showcasing the effectiveness of spin in the match. Sri Lanka's openers then capped off a comprehensive performance, efficiently chasing down the target to secure a convincing victory over Afghanistan.
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