Afghanistan scored 296 in their second innings, giving Sri Lanka a small target. Dimuth Karunaratne (32 not out) and Nishan Madushka (22 not out) successfully chased it down in 7.2 overs. Despite conceding 241 runs in the first innings, Afghanistan bounced back in their second inning with Ibrahim Zadran scoring a maiden Test hundred. However, after Rahmat Shah’s half-century, Afghanistan quickly collapsed.
Prabath Jayasuriya took seven wickets in the match, finishing with his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah reached 108 runs for the second wicket, and Afghanistan looked poised to stretch the game to the final day when they resumed at 199 for one on day four. However, the second new ball proved challenging as six wickets fell in the morning session for just 52 runs.
Seamer Kasun Rajitha dismissed Rahmat for 54, and left-arm spinner Jayasuriya exploited the bounce and turn offered by the new ball. Jayasuriya used his arm ball effectively, confusing batsmen who were expecting turn. Despite Ibrahim Zadran’s six-hour innings, he was bowled through the gate by one such delivery. Jayasuriya finished with five for 107, while seamers Asitha Fernando and Kasun Rajitha shared five wickets.
Jayasuriya, named the man of the match, ended with eight wickets, including three in the first innings. Despite the loss, Afghanistan’s fast bowlers impressed, with Naveed Zadran taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings on his debut.
Hundreds by former captains Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal propelled Sri Lanka to a first-innings total of 439. Their 232-run partnership for the fourth wicket set a record at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club.
Notably, the Test match is not part of the World Test Championship. The teams will now head to Kandy for a three-match ODI series, followed by three T20 Internationals in Dambulla.
