Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling victory by four runs in the first T20I against Afghanistan at a sold-out Dambulla stadium
Sri Lanka triumphed over Afghanistan, winning by four runs as they posted 160 (Hasaranga 67, Farooqi 3-25) while restricting Afghanistan to 156 for 9 (Zadran 67*, Pathirana 4-24).
Sri Lanka secured a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, edging a rollercoaster first T20I against Afghanistan by four runs in front of a sold-out crowd in Dambulla.
Binura Fernando, despite conceding 38 runs in three overs earlier, emerged as the hero by successfully defending 11 runs in the final over. On the other side, Ibrahim Zadran, who batted through the innings with an unbeaten 55-ball 67, fell agonizingly short in the end.
Matheesha Pathirana turned the game in the hosts’ favor, delivering an exceptional penultimate over. He secured two wickets for just three runs, concluding with impressive figures of 4 for 24.
Sri Lanka, put into bat, was bowled out for 160, largely attributed to Wanindu Hasaranga’s outstanding counterpunch innings of 67 off 32. Despite Hasaranga’s efforts, Afghanistan picked up a cluster of wickets around his knock, restricting Sri Lanka to a par total.
For a significant portion of Afghanistan’s chase, the game seemed under control, especially with Ibrahim at the crease. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by Pathirana, excelled in picking up wickets at crucial junctures, ultimately making an impact in the closing moments of the match.
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An action-packed powerplay unfolded
In the ODIs, much discussion revolved around the wickets, praising the batsman-friendly tracks in Pallekele. The question arose: would Dambulla, hosting its first men’s international in five years, follow suit? Afghanistan chose to bowl, keen on assessing the wicket before their turn to bat. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, had to adapt on the fly.
The answer unfolded quickly as Sri Lanka made an explosive start, accumulating a robust 51 runs in the powerplay. However, this aggressive approach came at a cost, losing three wickets in the process. Afghanistan skillfully exploited Sri Lanka’s newfound aggression: Pathum Nissanka edged one while attempting a wide shot, Kusal Mendis got a leading edge in an attempted scoop to third man, and Dhananjaya de Silva pulled one straight to deep square leg.
The troubles continued as Asalanka, attempting to pull a long hop down leg, only managed to feather an edge to the keeper. By the eighth over, Sri Lanka found themselves at 55 for 4, facing an unexpected challenge.
Hasaranga’s floating counter
With Sri Lanka facing the imminent threat of squandering a promising start, skipper Hasaranga took the initiative to elevate himself up the batting order, surpassing both Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka.
Hasaranga’s role as a floating pinch-hitter had initially been explored in the previous year’s LPL, yielding devastating results. The lingering question was whether he could replicate this success on the international stage. An injury before last year’s World Cup postponed the answer, but now he had the opportunity to showcase his batting prowess.
In a rapid-fire innings, Hasaranga plundered 67 runs from just 32 deliveries. His partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama, amounting to 72 runs, materialized in a mere 40 balls, with the latter contributing only 18. By the 16th over, when Hasaranga was dismissed, he had propelled Sri Lanka to a score of 146 for 6.
Afghanistan swiftly counterattacked, establishing a fast-paced start
Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-Ul-Haq, and Karim Janat displayed a mix of pace and length variations, making it challenging for the Sri Lankan lower order and tail to score freely.
Despite the presence of Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka in the death overs, Afghanistan ensured that Sri Lanka fell short of completing their 20 overs. The final four wickets contributed only 14 runs, with Mathews and Shanaka accounting for 12, resulting in Sri Lanka being bowled out for 160.
In their batting innings, Afghanistan launched a powerful start. Adhering to the script, they maximized the powerplay opportunities. With Ibrahim leading the way, they accumulated 57 runs in the initial six overs, losing just one wicket in the process.
Sri Lanka chips away with quick wickets.
Hasaranga, acknowledging Sri Lanka’s formidable bowling strength, strategically employed it to its fullest potential. Opting for an unconventional move, he entered the attack within the powerplay and made an impact in his second over, deceiving Gulbadin Naib with a well-disguised googly through the leg side.
Following this, Pathirana’s introduction in the subsequent over resulted in another wicket, and Dasun Shanaka, showcasing his astute changes in pace, claimed two wickets in the span of three balls two overs later. In a blink, Afghanistan found themselves at 86 for 5.
Pathirana proves clutch in the cricket match
In keeping with the theme of the game, the drama continued. Ibrahim and Karim Janat’s partnership of 39 off 28 deliveries took the match down to the wire. With 36 runs needed from 24 balls and five wickets in hand, the game was conceivably in Afghanistan’s favor.
However, Pathirana had different plans. Janat struggled against a searing length ball that kept lower than expected due to Pathirana’s slingy action, resulting in his dismissal. The 21-year-old showcased his skills by delivering two exceptionally quick fuller deliveries two overs later, dismissing Noor Ahmad and Naveen-Ul-Haq. This reduced Afghanistan to 150 for 9 heading into the final over.
In the decisive over, Binura redeemed himself with a series of well-directed wide yorkers, making it difficult for Ibrahim to score. As a result, Sri Lanka secured a nervy victory.