Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, 1st ODI at Kandy, SL v AFG, Nov 25 2022 - Ball by Ball Commentary

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!

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.

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.

Afghanistan are just a wicket away...

Rashid to continue.

Manthan Jain: "@zubir another 8 overs enough if hasranga carries on but only IF.........." This was sent an over or two back, but still remains true I reckon.

ShahSafeer : "Losing wickets at constant intervals would cost Sri Lanka this game! They've been dominating with bat otherwise"

Ran: "mueen hasan, getting a start and getting out is poor batting in my book. "

Kasun Rajitha enters the fray

Ran: "Mueen Hasan, how ca you Sri Lanka batters have batted well when only one on of them got over 20 runs ? " They batted well until they didn't.

SikandarKhattak: "Strange world it is,Theekshana's batting average is more than that of Hasaranga." Ha, great spot.