Time to wrap up our coverage, too, folks! After winning the one-off Test, Sri Lanka dumped Afghanistan in all three matches of the ODI series to clean-sweep the series, and now both sides will shift their focus to the 3-match T-20I series starting on February 17th.
For now, this is Deepak Prakash taking your leave on behalf of co-commentator Akshay Bhide and scorer/analyst Ashok Dayma. Stay tuned to our network for cricket extravaganzas all around the globe. CHEERS!
Kusal Mendis collects the trophy 🏆 and joins his teammates for the photographs. 📸
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka Captain): "I am very happy that we won the series, especially considering we achieved it without Maheesh and Wanindu. Akila Dananjaya and Dunith Wellalage's remarkable performances instilled confidence in our team's depth. Playing on favorable pitches throughout this series has been satisfying. While the next World Cup is a few years away in South Africa, this marks the beginning of our preparation.
Our batters showcased excellent form consistently throughout the series, which is highly encouraging. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the supportive crowd, as well as to the curators and pitch maintenance team who ensured we had the surfaces we desired."
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan Captain):"The result didn't go our way, but Sri Lanka showcased exceptional cricket across all facets throughout the series, so congratulations to them. Regarding our performance, we fell short of capitalizing on opportunities in the last ten overs of our batting innings. Certainly, the absence of Rashid and Mujeeb was felt throughout the series. I hope for their swift recovery and return for the upcoming matches.
They (Rashid and Mujeeb) are integral parts of our team, and their presence would have likely boosted our performance. I'll not be a part of the T20I series, I wish the best of luck to the team."
Pathum Nissanka (Player of the Match & Series): "I didn't know about the records (Fastest Lankan batters to score 2000 runs) but I am delighted to achieve it. I'm thankful to my father, who served as my initial coach. We found ourselves on a favorable wicket for batting, and Avishka and I capitalized on our strong start, maintaining that momentum throughout."