Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 34 runs via DLS method to register their first win of World CUp 2019. Chasing a modest target of 187 runs, Afghanistan started decently as both their openers scored at decent pace upfront. Sri Lanka pacers came back strongly and reduced them to 57/5 inside 14 overs. Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib stitched 50-run partnership to get their innings on track. But lack of support from other batsmen resulted in Afghanistan losing the game by 34 runs. For Sri Lanka, Nuwan Pradeep finished with his career best figure of 31/4. Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib won the toss and elected to bowl against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka openers Kusal Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne both started aggressively and completed 50-run stand in 29 balls. They kept going and added 92 runs for the first wicket. Karunaratne fell to Mohammad Nabi on 30. Perera was joined by Lahiru Thirimanne in the middle and they both added 52 runs for the second wicket. Sri Lanka were pushed on the backfoot by Nabi who picked up three wickets in an over. The wickets kept falling from the other end and Perera ultimately departed for 78 runs. The weather forecast before the match proved to be right as rain started pouring after 33 overs, halting the play for close to two hours. After the play resumed Sri Lanka could only add 13 runs to their tally. Nabi picked up maximum wickets for Afghanistan as he finished with 4/30 in nine overs. Afghanistan got a revised target of 187 runs. (SCORECARD)
World Cup 2019 Match Highlights Between Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, Straight from Sophia Gardens, CardiffÂ
That's all for tonight!
Malinga strikes again... Sri Lanka win!
Najibullah Zadran is out courtesy a direct hit
Malings strikes with his trademark yorker
Almost carried to the sweeper cover!
Misfield costs four!
Rashid Khan departs!
Rashid Khan is the new batsman!
Reverse sweep for four
100 up for Afghanistan
Sri Lanka halt the run flow
Beauty from Thisara Parera gets Nabi
Afghanistan in trouble as 4th wicket falls
Over the head for four!
Brilliant catch by Thisara Parera
Malinga strikes! Shahzad departs for 7
Sri Lanka all out for 201
Bowled! Zadran strikes!
Players are out in the middle!
Match to resume at 8:30 pm
Covers are off.. umpires out for inspection
Inspection in 10 minutes
Lunch break has been taken
Good news! Rain has stopped
For result we need minimum of 20 overs in 2nd innings
World Cup regulations
Out! Given... Kusal Perera departs
Bowled... Isuru Udana departs!
Maiden over from Rashid Khan
Run out? Yes it is...
What is going on here... One more mix-up
Another wicket! de Silva also goes for duck
Wickets tumbling! Mathews goes for 0.
Brilliant bowling from Nabi... Second wicket of the over
LBW appeal...Not out
Second no ball of the over
Another no ball! 50 for Kusal Perera
No ball... Free Hit... Four runs
Out! Sri Lanka skipper departs
Another economical over by Afghanistan
Four runs off 11th over
Sri Lanka 79/0 after 10 overs
Economical Mohammad Nabi
Four! 50 up for Sri Lanka
Indisciplined bowling from Hamid Hassan
Players are out in the middle!
Singing of national anthems
Playing XI Sri Lanka
Playing XI Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Sri Lanka Cricket Team