On Saturday, February 17, Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by four runs in a last-over thriller to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. The first match belonged to the Sri Lankan cricketing superstar Wanindu Hasaranga, who scored a match-defining fifty before picking up a key wicket with the ball at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
For the unversed, after winning the toss, the Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran decided to field first against the Sri Lankans. His decision paid dividends after the hosts lost Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Dhanajaya de Silva in the powerplay stage despite maintaining a decent run rate.
Charith Asalanka was back in the pavilion in the eighth over, which reduced the Sri Lankan total to 55/4. But then, Wanindu Hasaranga put together a 72-run stand for the fifth wicket with Sadeera Samarawickrama to put the hosts in a decent position.
A flurry of wickets in the Sri Lankan innings led to them folding for 160 runs in just 19 overs, thanks mainly to the three-wicket haul for Fazalhaq Farooqi. Wanindu Hasaranga top scored with 67 off 32 for the hosts, an innings which included seven fours and three maximums.
In pursuit of a 161-run target, Afghanistan's batting lineup had a very good start in the powerplay stage, despite losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 13. When the Afghans seemed in control of the game at 68/1 in the eighth over, the Sri Lankans removed Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai in quick succession to stage a fightback.
The bowling lineup of Sri Lanka never relented in the second half of Afghanistan innings, despite being unable to dismiss the captain Ibrahim Zadran, who stayed unbeaten till the end on 67 off 55. Matheesha Pathirana picked up four wickets, playing a key role in ensuring that the hosts keep Afghans down to 156/9 at the end of their innings, four runs shy of their total.
