Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 2nd ODI at Hambantota, SL v AFG, Jun 04 2023 - Match Result

5:54pm Right. That will be that from us for this game. In a couple of days' time, these teams will be at it again - this time, with the series on the line. Do join us then too. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Madushka, Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo! Goodbye and take care!

Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain: (Difference between this game and the first ODI) To be honest, our approach was the same. To play with positive intent is the main goal. The wicket today was better - the ball was not swinging and it was coming onto the bat. We knew with the partnerships we had, we were going to score big today. Toss is important as well but at the end of the day, the toss does not define whether we would win or lose. It is the skills that make it happen. (On batting in the death overs) We did not play on these type of pitches - here, it is different, so, credit must go to the ground staff as well. Our top four fired today and this is the way we should bat. Wanindu and myself ended well. (On Chameera) He is bowling with that intent and he has the skills to play white-ball cricket, and that is what is most important. At any time, we should have a player like that in our team. (On possible changes for the last ODI) It is totally up to the selectors, the coach and myself. We need to win the series before going into the qualifiers. We are trying different things and we are yet to decide (on the combination).

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain: (What went wrong) Our fielding and the way we bowled the last few overs. It sometimes happens. Everyone is trying their best but sometimes, it does not go according to the plan. The batting line-up is improving day by day and we will try to come back stronger. (On the toss) I think the pitch was not very difficult in the second innings also. 30 extra runs that Sri Lanka made against us meant that the pressure was on us and that was the main point. Hopefully we will have him (Rashid Khan) available in the next match.

Dhananjaya de Silva, Player of the Match: (On his role) Last series we played in Sri Lanka, I was batting up the order. I am enjoying (this new role). When I am bowling, my role is to support Wanindu and Maheesh and to keep the batters under pressure. (On the pitch) It is getting slower and slower.

Stick around as we bring the post-match presentation to you in a short while!

5:34pm Well, that turned into a fairly one-sided contest in the end - Sri Lanka's biggest over Afghanistan in ODIs (in terms of runs). They set the tone with the ball in the powerplay, with Chameera accounting for Gurbaz early. Afghanistan could never really get going and once the required run-rate zinged up to more than eight runs per over, they were always playing catch-up. The hosts' spinners also came into their own in the middle overs. de Silva bagged three, while Hasaranga also popped up with a three-wicket haul. In short, this was the sort of display Sri Lanka needed, especially after losing the opening game convincingly.

As for Afghanistan, this was a bad day at the office overall. Their bowing was not quite up to scratch and they struggled for rhythm with the bat. Skipper Shahidi was the only batter who looked comfortable at the crease and while Ibrahim Zadran also notched up a fifty, he was not at his free-flowing best. The visitors now have a couple of days to reflect on this loss, pick themselves up and ready themselves for the decider on Wednesday.

Farooqi is the last batter in

Hasaranga to continue from around the wicket to Fareed

Theekshana is back