DUNEDIN: Afghanistan threatened to produce a shock first victory at the Cricket World Cup on Sunday before over Sri Lanka dug themselves out of deep trouble in the run chase and pulled off a four-wicket win, thanked to Thisara Perera and Jeevan Mendis combining for a 58-run partnership.

The pair finished off what Mahela Jayawardene (100) and Angelo Mathews (44) had started after Sri Lanka had been reduced to 51 for four by the World Cup debutants as they chased 233 for victory.

Jayawardene had appeared to have the outcome in control for Sri Lanka with his 19th ODI century (and fourth in World Cups) and a 126-run partnership with Mathews but when he became paceman Hamid Hassan’s third wicket with 55 runs needed, the momentum shifted back towards Afghanistan.

Perera, an aggressive left-hander, then took the game away with some big hitting and finished on 47 from 32 balls as his side made 236-6 with 10 balls to spare. Mendis was nine not out.

Afghanistan had been dismissed for 232 in 49.4 overs, which was not considered enough of a target to defend on the small University Oval ground and good pitch that tends to get easier to bat on as the day progresses.

Their bowlers, however, started like they felt it would be sufficient with both Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan dismissed for golden ducks.

When Hamid Hassan bowled Kumar Sangakkara with a superb delivery at 18-3 in the sixth over, his reaction was unrestrained: he threw himself into a wild cartwheel which left him sprawling on the pitch.

Hamid struck again in the 12th over when Dimuth Karunaratne was well caught by Nawroz Mangal at first slip for 23, which reduced the 1996 World Cup champions to 51-4.

Afghanistan’s batsmen had not looked out of their depth, though they did show a lack of experience at the highest level when they were unable to capitalise on good starts.

Asghar Stanikzai top scored with 54, his fifth One-day International half century, but he was also guilty of getting out when he should have settled down to bat through until the end of the innings.

Stanikzai had combined with Samiullah Shenwari (38) in an 88-run partnership and the pair appeared so comfortable they looked to have set a platform for their side to eventually push on towards a total approaching 300.

However, the wheels fell off when Stanikzai was caught in the deep by Mendis, a dismissal that appeared to slam the brakes on the batting side’s momentum.

Shenwari went shortly after and it was left to captain Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran to rebuild the innings and set themselves to launch in the final 15 overs.

Both fell in the batting power play bowled by Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal, who turned the screw by conceding just 10 runs in the five overs.

“We probably dodged a bullet today,” Jayawardene said. “All credit to Afghanistan. They batted very well in tough conditions and then bowled beautifully, bowled up to the batsman with a bit of movement and put us under a lot of pressure.”

The win put Sri Lanka’s campaign back on track after its 98-run loss to New Zealand in their opening game.

“We started very well for the first 30 overs but after that we didn’t play well,” Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi said. “We were short 30 or 40 runs. In the second half we bowled very well for the first 10 or 15 overs and put pressure on them at three down. But we missed a few run outs. It was a tough and tight game and the boys played very well.”

Scoreboard

AFGHANISTAN:

Javed Ahmadi c Herath b Lakmal 24

Nawroz Mangal c Thirimanne b Mathews 10

Asghar Stanikzai c Mendis b Herath 54

Samiullah Shenwari c Mathews b Perera 38

Mohammad Nabi b Malinga 21

Najibullah Zadran c Perera b Lakmal 10

Afsar Zazai c Herath b Malinga 19

Mirwais Ashraf c Lakmal b Malinga 28

Dawlat Zadran b Mathews 4

Hamid Hassan c Mendis b Mathews 0

Shapoor Zadran not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-16, NB-1) 23

TOTAL (all out, 49.4 overs) 232

FALL OF WKTS: 1-34, 2-40, 3-128, 4-157, 5-169, 6-175, 7-221, 8-227, 9-227.

BOWLING: Malinga 9.4-1-41-3 (1nb, 5w); Lakmal 10-1-36-2 (2w); Mathews 7-0-41-3 (2w); Perera 10-0-54-1 (1w); Herath 10-0-41-1 (1w); Mendis 3-0-13-0.

SRI LANKA:

H.D.R.L. Thirimanne lbw b Dawlat 0

T.M. Dilshan c Afsar b Shapoor 0

K.C. Sangakkara b Hamid 7

F.D.M. Karunaratne c Nawroz b Hamid 23

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Nawroz b Hamid 100

A.D. Mathews run out 44

B.M.A.J. Mendis not out 9

N.L.T.C. Perera not out 47

Extras (lb-2, w-3, nb-1) 6

Total (for six wkts, 48.2overs) 236

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-2, 3-18, 4-51, 5-177, 6-178.

DID NOT BAT: H.M.R.K.B. Herath, S.L. Malinga, R.A.S. Lakmal

BOWLING: Dawlat Zadran 9-0-44-1 (1w); Shapoor Zadran 10-1-48-1, Hamid Hassan 9-0-45-3 (1nb); Mirwais Ashraf 8.1-0-31-0; Mohammad Nabi 5.2-0-28-0 (1w); Asghar Stanikzai 0.5-0-6-0; Samiullah Shenwari 6-0-32-0.

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by four wickets.

UMPIRES: R.K. Illingworth (England) and C.B. Gaffaney (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: J.D. Cloete (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mahela Jayawardene.

Published in Dawn February 23rd , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play