Afghanistan 209 for five (Gurbaz 70, Dananjaya 2-37) beat Sri Lanka 206 for five (Kamindu 65*, Nissanka 60, Nabi 2-35) by three runs
The distinction within the end proved to be the ultimate two deliveries of the respective innings. Afghanistan, having elected to bat first, struck 10 runs off their remaining two balls courtesy debutant Mohammed Ishaq to push their whole to 209 for five. Sri Lanka of their response ended up needing 10 off 2, however Kamindu may solely handle six – that too coming off the ultimate supply of the sport.
Sri Lanka in response had Nissanka prepared the ground with a 30-ball 60 earlier than a hamstring pressure compelled him to retire damage, however Kamindu’s 65 off 39 ensured the sport would go down to the wire.
Suffice to say it wasn’t a day for the bowlers with none ready to keep an economic system price of beneath eight, with the seamers on either side receiving the brunt of the abuse every taken for greater than 10 an over.
Gurbaz and Zazai set the stage
With simply pleasure to play for, Gurbaz and Zazai set about unloading their frustrations over how this tour has gone, because the pair clobbered their method to an 88-run opening stand in simply 48 deliveries.
Sri Lanka weren’t spared from both end throughout a 72-run powerplay because the pair had been equal to something Sri Lanka threw their method. None of Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana – introduced in early in try to stem the circulate of runs – nor Akila Dananjaya had been spared, plundered to all components.
Gurbaz, who’s had a torrid tour by his requirements, was notably happy to lastly get some runs underneath his belt, celebrating his half-century with a glance to the heavens and an unequivocal look of aid on his face. He rode his luck as nicely, dropped on 22 by Dananjaya after which once more afterward 58 by Sadeera Samawickrama – each possibilities within the deep and on the run.
Partnerships preserve momentum going
As soon as the opening partnership was ended, Sri Lanka may need hoped to reel issues again however Afghanistan scarcely took their foot off the gasoline. Whereas they had been unable to keep the scoring price of roughly 12 an over that Gurbaz and Zazai had been galloping alongside at, at no level throughout their innings did the speed drop beneath 10.
Successive partnerships of 25, 28, 41 – all comfortably above run-a-ball – ensured Sri Lanka’s bowlers had been by no means allowed to construct any strain, after which Ishaq’s final-over strikes positioned the ending touches on a dominant outing with the bat.
Nissanka’s one-man present
Over the previous couple of years Sri Lanka’s greater totals had incessantly coincided with a Kusal Mendis onslaught, however 2024 has been the Nissanka present so far as Sri Lanka are involved.
Whereas his double-ton within the ODIs appeared to catch many abruptly, Nissanka now appears hellbent on fully remodeling his white-ball sport into considered one of a pocket-sized energy hitter.
He signalled his intent within the very first over of the chase, clipping one superb first ball earlier than swatting a brief one previous mid-on a few balls later. He saved his harmful finest although for Fareed Ahmad within the remaining over of the powerplay, as he took him for six, 4, 4, first scooped over superb leg, then slapped excessive down the bottom and eventually flayed over level.
By the point he left the sphere he had accounted for 60 (off 30 deliveries) of Sri Lanka’s 83 on the board. They’ll hope the hamstring harm that compelled him to retire damage is nothing critical; his parting shot earlier than leaving the sphere – a slog sweep over deep midwicket – was a bittersweet reminder of exactly what they’d be lacking out on.
Afghanistan maintain their nerve
Regardless of Nissanka’s blazing begin, the required price nonetheless hovered over 10 an over always, however Sri Lanka did nicely to preserve the required price inside touching distance even whereas shedding the likes of Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga cheaply.
This was largely down to a momentum-shifting stand between Samarawickrama and Kamindu, the pair placing on 53 off 33. When Samarawickrama fell edging a minimize to the keeper, and Mathews shortly after holing out within the deep, Afghanistan may need felt they had been residence clear, nevertheless one other fast fireplace stand shifted the steadiness as soon as extra.
Dasun Shanaka and Kamindu placed on 35 off 17, however with Shanaka run out and Mendis needing 19 off the ultimate over, he and Sri Lanka fell agonisingly quick.
