Watch: Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka retired hurt after collapsing while hitting a six against Afghanistan in the third T20I in Dambulla on February 21.
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Nissanka was visibly uncomfortable when he resumed his innings after reaching his 10th T20I fifty off 27 balls. Facing Mohammed Nabi in the second delivery of the eighth over, he rocked back, tugging the ball to long-on’s right, and was seen hobbling back for a couple. The physiotherapist arrived to give some treatment, and Nissanka was allowed to continue.
Off the third ball of Noor Ahmed in the next over, he hit a massive six, resembling Glenn Maxwell’s strokeplay from the unbelievable 2023 World Cup double hundred against Afghanistan. Nissanka’s sore hamstring restricted his feet movements, forcing the batter to go down on his knees and whack it over mid-wicket using his hands. The Sri Lanka opener fell as soon as he executed the stroke and had to walk off the field for 60 off 30 midway through his innings. Sri Lanka were 89-2 after nine overs.
Chasing 210, the hosts fell short by three runs in the end with 19 runs required off the last over. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the Player of the Match for his match-winning 43-ball 70, comprising seven fours and a six.
