Sri Lanka lost their last three wickets for 39 runs as the visitors closed out the hosts’ first innings for 439 runs in the morning session on Day 3.
Afghanistan began their second innings 241 runs behind, but they came surging back into the Test with a brilliant batting display, putting on 199 runs for 1 wicket at the close of play on Day 3.
The opening batter, Ibrahim Zadran, put on extensive stands with Noor Ali Zadran and Rahmat Shah for 1st and 2nd wicket respectively. Ibrahim completed a valiant maiden Test century, while Noor Ali and Shah contributed with valuable 40s.
Sri Lankan bowlers had to toil hard on a flat surface at SSC, which hasn’t yet begun to deteriorate, which means the hosts’ spinners had very little to exploit. The speedster Asitha Fernando was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he delivered some excellent shot-pitched deliveries and fuller-length balls to put some pressure on the visiting batters.
The Sri Lankan bowling attack faced a significant blow today as one of their premier pace bowlers, Chamika Gunasekara, was replaced by Kasun Rajitha as a concussion substitute after he was hit on the head while batting in the first session of the day.
