Player of the Match
Player of the Match

10:06pm Right. That will be that from us for tonight. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Do join us again on Sunday as Sri Lanka look to bounce back in this series and Afghanistan try to make history. Until then, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Thilak and Madushka. Goodbye, goodnight and take care!

Ibrahim Zadran, Player of the Match: (About the innings) I am really happy with my innings and how I played. I am very thankful to the almighty. We wanted to bat first if we won the toss and it happened like that. The wicket was pretty good for batting and I took my time on the wicket and played well. There is no change in the wicket (in the second innings). After 10 overs, I passed the message that we should go for 320 runs. Our bowlers bowled really well and they did not allow the opposition batters to play well.

Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain: (Where it went wrong) It is disappointing. We didn't execute our plans while bowling. Toss is important but it was a really good wicket. We got 230 in 38 overs, the partnerships did not come from us. (On death-bowling) In the middle phase, we did not control well but in the end, we did a good job, especially Rajitha, Dhananjay and Wanindu. (On batters getting starts) The difference between the two sides is partnerships. They played around Ibrahim and three others played around him. It is disappointing we did not convert it to make it a win. (On qualification for the ODI World Cup next year) We have to win three games out of five and we are looking forward to that.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain: Feeling good, the way the boys played, the way we started and ended the innings, I am proud of my team. Last seven overs we did not play the way we wanted. We were some 30 runs short. But still our bowlers did very well and gave a good performance. (Bowling plans) The plan was simple. To just bowl wicket to wicket and bowl as many dot balls. That was our plan.

Let's hear what the players have to say!

END OF OVER:
38 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 234/10 (61 runs required from 12 overs, RR: 6.15, RRR: 5.08)

  • Lahiru Kumara0 (1b)
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi9-0-49-4
  • Rashid Khan8-0-40-1

9:50pmWell in the end Afghanistan have secured a 60-run win, their first against Sri Lanka in ODIs, as they take a 1-0 lead in this 3-match series. But just spare a thought for Wanindu Hasaranga, who had first kept his side in the game with the ball, before playing a nearly match-stealing innings with the bat. His 46-ball 66 though was ultimately in vain, as he kept running out of partners before eventually being last man to fall. Pathum Nissanka had earlier scored an 83-ball 85 to propel the Lankan chase, but wickets at crucial junctures would eventually win Afghanistan the game. It was the seam pairing of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib that would do the most damage, picking up 4 and 3 wickets apiece. That they were able to bowl so aggressively was down to a an Ibrahim Zadran century and a pair of half centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah. The Afghan innings would taper off at the death, but the bowlers would see them home.

37.6
W
Fazalhaq Farooqi to PW Hasaranga, OUT, And that is the game! Hasaranga is that last man to fall, as he makes room and this time the ball makes it way through him. Bottom edge on to the leg stump. Afghanistan take a 1-0 lead in the series!

PW Hasaranga b Fazalhaq Farooqi 66 (71m 46b 10x4 2x6) SR: 143.47

Sean Daniel : "SL tend to have created a pattern for themselves of loosing the first game of a series. Only question is will they be able to bounce back." They might, but in terms of Super League points that might not be enough.

37.5
4
Fazalhaq Farooqi to PW Hasaranga, FOUR, And Hasaranga finally finds the gap! Low full toss, carved to the left of extra cover, and wide enough of sweeper cover as well. Cracking shot.
37.4
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to PW Hasaranga, no run, full, darted in towards off stump. Driven to deep cover, but turns down the single
37.3
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to PW Hasaranga, no run, Slower ball, 110kph, deceives Hasaranga who looks to hack this square but is very early on the stroke. Just shaves off stump too.
37.2
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to PW Hasaranga, no run, Full and driven again, but this time seeks out extra cover
37.1
0
Fazalhaq Farooqi to PW Hasaranga, no run, full and driven hard, but straight to mid-off

END OF OVER:
37 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 230/9 (65 runs required from 13 overs, RR: 6.21, RRR: 5.00)

  • Lahiru Kumara0 (1b)
  • Wanindu Hasaranga62 (40b)
  • Rashid Khan8-0-40-1
  • Yamin Ahmadzai6-0-46-2
36.6
0
Rashid Khan to Kumara, no run, And Kumara survives. Defended towards mid-on.

Afghanistan are just a wicket away...

36.5
W
Rashid Khan to Rajitha, OUT, And the googly gets him! Rajitha however reviews! This was tossed up and goes past the forward defence, only question is, is this spinning past leg? And it's another one that's umpire's call! Sri Lanka keep hold of their review, but that will be little consolation.

CAK Rajitha lbw b Rashid Khan 8 (9m 5b 2x4 0x6) SR: 160.00

36.4
1
Rashid Khan to PW Hasaranga, 1 run, good length googly, cut hard towards sweeper cover. Hasaranga doesn't want to take the single, but Rajitha convinces him in the end
36.3
0
Rashid Khan to PW Hasaranga, no run, good length on the stumps, defended
36.2
4
Rashid Khan to PW Hasaranga, FOUR, Smacked down the ground! Clears the front foot and hits this straight as an arrow over the bowler

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st16BKG MendisP Nissanka
2nd19LD ChandimalP Nissanka
3rd39DM de SilvaP Nissanka
4th16KIC AsalankaP Nissanka
5th47MD ShanakaP Nissanka
6th31PW HasarangaP Nissanka
7th30PW HasarangaD Lakshan
8th18PW HasarangaM Theekshana
9th14CAK RajithaPW Hasaranga
10th4CBRLS KumaraPW Hasaranga