Lindamlilage Silva became Afridi's second victim after hitting a quickfire 29, while Prasanna Jayawardene managed just a single before he too fell to Afridi.
But three wickets fell in six overs and after Prasanna Jayawardene was out in what proved to be the final over, Sri Lanka accepted the offer of bad light.
Together with the superb spin-bowlers he promoted Chandrasekhar, Venkataraghavan, Bedi and Prasanna, their skills honed on India's hard, dry grounds he built a team that achieved India's first Test series victory abroad, against New Zealand, in 1967-68.
Prasanna Jayawardene contributed a useful 25 before he was leg-before to spinner Daniel Vettori, who also accounted for Farveez Maharoof and Malinga for figures of 3-53 as the Kiwis made short work of Sri Lanka's tail.