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
Najibullah Zadran wanted to retain the strike on the last ball and ran for a quick single but Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne hits the stumps at the bowling end. Zadran departs for 43 runs.
Najibullah Zadran slashed hard and the ball raced away to the thirdman fence for a four. The umpire has signalled a no ball for Sri Lanka don't have enough fielder inside the ring. Zadran however fails to make use of that freebie.
Lasith Malinga uses his trademark yorker to get rid of Dawlat Zadran who departs for 6. Malinga forced Dawlat Zadran on his backfoot beautifully through his full balls and bouncers earlier in the over.
Nuwan Pradeep bowls wide delivery outside off stump and Najibullah Zadran lofts it over cover and the ball fell just short of charging Thisara Parera at sweeper cover who does well to stop the ball on the half volley. Zadran refuses to run what could have been an easy two.
Two fielders tried to stop the same ball, Lasith Malinga slipped inside the inner-circle while Angelo Mathews dived near the fence, but still couldn't stop it from reaching the boundary ropes.
Nuwan Pradeep strikes once again as Rashid Khan departs for 2. Pradeep bowled a peach of a delivery to dismiss the leggie. This is Pradeep's best ODI bowling performance.
Nuwan Pardeep has given Sri Lanka the breakthrough they were looking for. The ball was pitched on the off and was angling into Gulbadin Naib's pads who was late for the shot. The replay confirms the umpire's decision and Afghanistan skipper has to depart for 23 runs.
Poor bowling from Nuwan Pradeep. He banged it way to short and the ball goes way over keeper's head for a four. There was no need for that. The extras in this match have reached 50-mark
Nuwan Pradeep hits the deck hard, the ball crosses Najibullah Zadran way over his head into the keeper's hands and this extra run brings up the 50-run stand between Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib.
Isuru Udana bowls a full ball to Guladin Naib which takes a thick inside edge and went on to nearly hit his stump. The batsmen complete a single which brings up their team 100.
Lasith Maling gave 11 runs in his last over and since then Sri Lanka bowlers have made a decent comeback as they have conceded just six runs in last two overs.
Another wide and full ball from Thisara Parera and Najibullah Zadran reaches out for that and finds the gap between cover and point and gets his third boundary.
Thisara Parera bowls one wide outside off to Najibullah Zadran who waited for it and drives it along the ground on the off-side for a welcome boundary for Afghanistan.
Thisara Parera bowls an in-swinging ball to Mohammad Nabi who plays it outside the line, creating a gap between bat and pad and the ball sneaked into that gap and knocked his stumps. Nabi goes for 11.
Scrambled seam from Nuwan Pradeep, bounced more than usual, took Hashmatullah Shahidi by surprise who was trying to drive it off the backfoot but only manages an outside edge straight to keeper, giving Sri Lanka the fourth wicket.
Nuwan Pradeep bowls a well-directed bouncer to Hazratullah Zazai who pulled it to fine leg where Thisara Parera takes a wonderful catch diving forward to dismiss dangerous Zazai. He departs after scoring 30 off 25 balls.
Isuru Udana strikes for Sri Lanka. He bowled full delivery angling away from Rahmat Shah who hurled his bat at it, the ball takes his outside edge and went straight to wide first slip where Angelo Mathews makes no mistake.
Isuru Udana starts off with a decent first ball and nearly got a wicket. He bowled that full and Zazai popped it straight down which almost carried to him.
Lasith Malinga provides Sri Lanka with first breakthrough as Mohammad Shahzad departs for 7. Malinga bowled that full on the leg stump, Shahzad was late for his shot and ended up hitting it to short midwicket where Dimuth Karunaratne takes a low dipping catch, just inches from the ground.
Hazratullah Zazai muscles away the ball past mid-on for a four. He cleared his front leg and allowed the ball to pitch near him which worked in his favour. Also, the power with which he hit that was just insane.
A beauty from Rashid Khan ends the Sri Lanka innings for 201. Rashid bowled a leggie on the middle and leg stump which went on to clip the off stump of Nuwan Pradeep.
Afghanistan
Sri Lanka Cricket Team