Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan, 1st T20I Live Score: Sri Lanka prevailed over Afghanistan by a margin of 4 runs.

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Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the 1st T20 International, Sri Lanka emerged victorious by a narrow margin of 4 runs. The match, filled with excitement and tension, showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, making it a memorable contest for cricket enthusiasts.

Sri Lanka, batting first, set a challenging target for Afghanistan with a commendable display of batting prowess. The top-order batsmen laid a solid foundation, with contributions from key players. The middle order played a crucial role in accelerating the scoring rate.

Right then, that is it from this game and it is the hosts, Sri Lanka who have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan who will believe that they can make a comeback as they really got close in this game as well. Sri Lanka on the other hand will have their eyes on sealing the series in the next game. The 2nd T20I will be played at the very same ground in Dambulla on Monday, 19 February, and will begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). However, you can catch our build-up to the game a lot sooner.

Sri Lanka says that it was a close game and says he feels they were 15 runs short. Adds that he didn't try to overdo anything and held onto the basics. Says that the batters should take more responsibility in the coming games. Ends up by saying that they will perform more strongly in the second game.

Afghanistan were on top as they managed to take three wickets for cheap with the likes of Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Dhananjaya de Silva being dismissed before they were able to get going in the innings.

Wanindu Hasaranga managed to showcase his skills with the bat as he was able to rack up 67 off 32 deliveries pushing the hosts to set a target of 161. They had an over to spare, but Afghanistan’s bowling unit came together to restrict the hosts to a chaseable score. It was the pacers that impacted the first innings mostly with Fazalhaq Farooqi taking 3, and Naveen-ul-haq and Azmatullah Omarzai taking two wickets each.

In the second innings, it was the youngster Matheesha Pathirana with his express pace, picking up four wickets to dent Afghanistan’s chances of chasing down the total. Skipper Ibrahim Zadran was alone in doing the heavy lifting as he brought the touring side close to the total with 67 but did not get any support from the other batters.

Afghanistan will take it. On a hard length outside off, Qais Ahmad intentionally opens the bat's face but it takes the leading edge and flies to the right of the keeper who dives to his full stretch and it trickles down to the fence for a four.

Sri Lanka steal a sensational win by 4 runs at Dambulla. And it is fair to say that Matheesha Pathirana stood between the win and Afghanistan. Binura holds his line outside off from over the wicket and fuller in length, Ibrahim Zadran throws his bat at it and connects well through extra covers for a boundary. But it is too late. Sri Lanka take the series lead by 1-0 by winning this first T20I.

Fazalhaq Farooqi is the last man in for Afghanistan but he won't be on strike. 11 needed off the final over. It will be Binura Fernando to bowl the final over. Fernando has been expensive but can he defend 10 runs and win the game for his side? Also, there is a slight hold-up in play as there is an issue with one of the stumps again. The groundstaff fix the stump that was broken and we can now continue.

Naveen-ul-Haq comes ahead a couple of steps and shuffles a bit to the leg side looking to squeeze it to the off side but exposes the stumps in that process and misses to connect the ball. The rock shatters the stumps again. Matheesha Pathirana is making the ball talk here. What a sensational penultimate over and a perfect display of death over bowling from Pathirana. Just three runs and two wickets from this over. 11 needed off the last over now. Matheesha Pathirana has made the ground staff work to replace the stumps as he has destroyed the timber thrice in this match.

Noor Ahmed strikes big! Serves a juicy half-volley on the stumps, Noor Ahmad swings hard clearing his front leg, and deposits into the stands over long on for a biggie. 

Matheesha Pathirana to Ibrahim Zadran, On the back of a length and outside off, Ibrahim drops it down to the off side. Getting closer here the Afghans. The equation now stands at 24 runs required off 18 balls.

Sharp appeal for LBW and the Umpire raises his finger again. Karim Janat reviews it after a brief discussion with Ibrahim. Pathirana bowls it on a length and on the stump line, Karim Janat stays on the back foot covering his stumps but plays it outside the line of the ball as it sneaks through his inside edge and thuds his pads. The UltraEdge shows no bat is involved as the ball passes the bat. It is followed by Ball Tracker and it confirms three reds. This time the decision stands and Afghanistan loses Karim Janat. Matheesha Pathirana provides another crucial breakthrough for his team.

An adamant appeal for LBW from everyone in the field, and up goes the finger! Ibrahim Zadran straightaway reviews it! Hasaranga bowls it on the off-stump line and sneaks back in. Ibrahim prods ahead and plays outside the line of the ball and wears it on the pads. The UltraEdge comes up and shows that no bat is involved. Ball Tracker proves that the ball is missing the leg stump. 

Dasun Shanaka to Ibrahim Zadran, Good running! Slower one at 112 clicks and on a good length over the middle, Ibrahim Zadran stays back and tucks it into the gap at mid-wicket before racing back for the second run.

The bowling change has worked yet again and Afghanistan is losing its way. Slower delivery at just 100 clicks from Dasun Shanaka and this is bowled full and wide. Mohammad Nabi hangs deep in the crease and looks to power it over extra cover but doesn't get the required elevation. Wanindu Hasaranga is stationed there and he just crouches a bit before taking a sharp catch with both hands around his face and Sri Lanka is pumped up.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Gulbadin Naib, OUT! BOWLED'EM! The skipper shines and now with the bowl as he breaks a brewing partnership! Bowls a wrong'un on off which slides into the batter after pitching and is fuller in length, Gulbadin Naib sits on his knee to slap it over the leg side but ends up playing all over it and it goes through his defense before breaking into the stumps. Gulbadin Naib departs and Afghanistan are two down now.

Binura Fernando to Ibrahim Zadran, Oh, dear! Sri Lanka are gifting runs away to Afghanistan now. Shorter and at the body, dabbed down to mid-wicket for a quick run. Wanindu Hasaranga picks up the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end but the throw is more into the surface. Dasun Shanaka who is backing up gets a bad bounce and the ball eludes him to roll into the boundary. The bowler won't be one bit pleased with that.

 Karim Janat to Dasun Shanaka, FOUR! Nicely timed and the 150 comes up for Sri Lanka. Goes searching for the yorker and gets it decently full, Dasun Shanaka does well to get his hands out in front and drills it back past the bowler for a boundary.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Sadeera Samarawickrama, Off the mark. Around the wicket comes Farooqi and pitches it on the short length outside off, Sadeera Samarawickrama punches it towards mid-off and shoots off for a single. A direct hit there would have been curtains for Sadeera Samarawickrama here.

 Fazalhaq Farooqi to Pathum Nissanka, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A fantastic catch by Gurbaz to remove the man in form Pathum Nissanka. Afghanistan get their first wicket in the very first over. Fazalhaq Farooqi bowls it wide outside off and invites Pathum Nissanka to poke at it on a length which nips wildly away from the batter, Pathum Nissanka does try to slash it off throwing his hands at it with no footwork at all and it takes the outside edge. Rahmanullah Gurbaz takes a brilliant catch diving to his right. The third Umpire checks and confirms that Gurbaz has taken a clean catch

Sri Lanka:- Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana.

 

Afghanistan:- Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran(c), Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq.