Afghanistan v Sri Lanka
Wisden's review of Afghanistan v Sri Lanka
Andrew Fidel Fernando
15-Apr-2017
At Kolkata, March 17, 2016 (floodlit). Sri Lanka won by six wickets. Toss: Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka dropped three catches, resorted to some strange bowling changes, and produced an unconvincing display from the middle order - but Dilshan's 83 not out from 56 balls was enough to carry them home. Herath had helped reduce Afghanistan to 51 for four after 11 overs, but he was taken off with figures of two for 11 from three, and the innings recovered. Asghar Stanikzai, the captain, made a stuttering start - he was dropped on 34 as Thirimanne parried a slog-sweep over the midwicket boundary for six - but found fluency to put on 61 in 33 balls with Samiullah Shenwari. With 106 coming off the last ten overs, 153 for seven felt passable. But Dilshan hit his sixth ball over square leg for six, and scooped his seventh over fine leg for six more. He rarely looked ruffled, which was just as well: no one else in the top five reached 20, with Perera and Kapugedera both run out. Dilshan, though, continued to prosper square of the wicket, and the required rate remained in hand. Poor fielding from Afghanistan's boundary riders helped lubricate Sri Lanka's advance in the middle overs, and rapid runs from Mathews settled matters.
Man of the Match: T. M. Dilshan.
Sri Lanka dropped three catches, resorted to some strange bowling changes, and produced an unconvincing display from the middle order - but Dilshan's 83 not out from 56 balls was enough to carry them home. Herath had helped reduce Afghanistan to 51 for four after 11 overs, but he was taken off with figures of two for 11 from three, and the innings recovered. Asghar Stanikzai, the captain, made a stuttering start - he was dropped on 34 as Thirimanne parried a slog-sweep over the midwicket boundary for six - but found fluency to put on 61 in 33 balls with Samiullah Shenwari. With 106 coming off the last ten overs, 153 for seven felt passable. But Dilshan hit his sixth ball over square leg for six, and scooped his seventh over fine leg for six more. He rarely looked ruffled, which was just as well: no one else in the top five reached 20, with Perera and Kapugedera both run out. Dilshan, though, continued to prosper square of the wicket, and the required rate remained in hand. Poor fielding from Afghanistan's boundary riders helped lubricate Sri Lanka's advance in the middle overs, and rapid runs from Mathews settled matters.
Man of the Match: T. M. Dilshan.