Pool AMatch: Sri Lanka Vs Afghanistan Played at University of Dunedin, New Zealand
Sri Lanka 236/6 ( Mahela Jayewardene 100, NLTC Pererra 47* , Angelo Mathews 44 , Hamid Hasan 3/ 45) beat Afghanistan 232 All Out ( Asghar Stanikzai 54 , Samiullah Sinwari 38 , Lasith Malinga 3/ 41, Angelo Mattews 3/41 )
by 4 Wickets

University Oval Dunedin, New Zealand witnessed a fascinating cricket contest when brave debutant Afghanistan stretched strong Sri Lanka to their limit .The hard fought 4 wicket win in a keenly contested match required maestro Mahela Jayewardene use all his tricks out of hat and sizzling NLTC Perera had to unleash a flamboyant innings to hurdle over Afghans Hindukush Mountain resistance. Great Mahela found little difference in quality of Afghanistan fast bowlers with the top bowlers of the world .He also praised their batting skills on a difficult wicket. It was a great compliment on a memorable performance of a team which only played its second game in the world cup. It could be different if Afghanistan had experience of 10 – 15 match experience behind them as they really shocked and awed Sri Lankans removing both openers for golden ducks and maintaining a stranglehold on Sri Lankan batting throughout the business session of Sri Lankan response. Sri Lankan score of 236 could be 270 -280 had they not panicked in batting power play. Again when Sri Lanka was 4/51by 12 th over they could not exploit the initiative.

Wicket was not easy and environment heavily favored swing and seam bowling. Angela Matthews rightly decided to put Afghanistan into bat in testing conditions. But the Afghanistan top order handled the situation admirably well and did not lose early wickets against moving deliveries. Even the 3rd wicket partnership between flamboyant Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Sinwari laid a solid foundation with impressive 88 runs. But for lack of big match experience the initiative could not be exploited. Experienced Mohammad Nabi and Nazibullah Zadran hurried in batting power play causing their demise. Otherwise instead of 236 all out there could be another 20 30 runs which could have made a big difference in the outcome of the match. Yet the efforts of Afghanistan scoring 236 on a difficult to bat wickets against a very potent Sri Lankan attack having Malinga , Lakmal , Perera and Herath was an achievement in itself. Malinga struck three vital blows on Afghanistan middle order in batting power play made the difference. Matthews also took three important wickets. Stanikzai scored 54 impressive runs but failed to expand it to a match winning bigger innings. Afghans will learn with experience that against major opposition batsman getting in should lay down anchors for others to bat around him. The most experienced of the Afghans Mohammad Nabi also tried a cross bat stroke of very clever operator Malinga at a very crucial stage of the match to see his furniture disturbed. Their strategy at that time could be seeing off lethal Malinga. Presence to Nabi at the last stage could make a huge difference.

However, with not even a challenging score Afghanistan with high quality pace bowling dealt severe blows on Sri Lankan batting. The Openers Lahiru Thirimanne and Tilakaratne Dilshan scored golden ducks by two Zadrans .When Hamid Hasan cleaned up Sangakkara suddenly Lankans were reeling at 3/18 by 6th over. Three new ball bowlers Dawlat, Shahpoor and Hamid bowled with sustained pace and aggression .An upset was looming. Hamid also accounted for Karunaratne. Fortunately for Lankans Mahela who relishes challenges was still there .Several times over his illustrious career he salvaged the team from similar situation .He took charge and along with skipper Angelo he took the pain to confront Afghan bullets . The pair playing cautiously weathered the storm with a 128  fifth wicket partnership. Before Angelo was run out .Mahela also became Hamid;’s victim but not before he scored one of his most satisfying 100. When he got out at 178 Lankans were not 100% sure of winning. They still required 58 runs in 58 balls with lower middle order and tail enders at the wicket. It required a bold and belligerent NTC Pererra to smash an unbeaten 47 in 26 deliveries to take the match away from Afghan tigers jaw. This win by 4 wickets saved Sri Lanka from a humiliation and probably ensured their opportunity of advancing to quarter finals.

Well done Afghanistan .They can take so much of positives from the match. All ICc associate qualifiers so far have given good account of themselves proving the justification for not squeezing the future world cups to 10 participants. ICC associates richly deserve the participation opportunity for the global growth of cricket. The same sentiment was echoed by great Sachin Tendulkar and widely discussed among experts now.

BDST: 1024 HRS, FEB 23, 2015