Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by four runs in the first T20 at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday thanks to a swashbuckling 67 by Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva as the home team successfully defended a total of 160.
Afghanistan were restricted to 156 for 9 in 50 overs with Ibrahim Zadran unbeaten on 67.
Afghanistan players come together after taking the wicket of Pathum Nissanka (not in picture) for 6
Afghanistan drew first blood when they had the dangerous stroke-making opener Pathum Nissanka out for 3 caught behind in the fourth ball of the innings when paceman Farooqi struck the crucial blow for his team.
Sri Lanka got into further trouble when Kusal Mendis struggled to come to grips with the bowling and was caught attempting to play a reverse shot making just 10 runs in eight balls followed by the dismissal of Dhananjaya de Silva for 24 who was striking the ball well before he was caught on the square-leg boundary.
Charith Asalanka also did not last long as he made just three runs in seven balls before edging a ball from Noor Ahmad to be caught behind by Gurbaz.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 160 in 19 overs (Kusal Mendis 10, Dhananjaya de Silva 24, Sadeera Samarawickrema 25, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 67, Farooqi 3 for 25)
Afghanistan 156 for 9 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 67 not out, R Gurbaz 13, G Naib 16, Karim Janat 20, Dasun Shanaka 2 for 17, Matheesha Pathirana 4 for 24
