Match Center

A high scoring game to start the series. The hosts take the lead but the visitors will look to square it up on the 11th of this month when they meet again. Join us at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT). Join us for the build up.

Hashmatullah Shahidi says he bowled first thinking dew might come in but the pitch was good enough to chase it down. Adds they gave away too many runs in the first 10 overs and then the momentum shifted completely. Tells they had hope when Nabi and Omarzai were batting but credit to Sri Lanka.

Pathum Nissanka wins the Player of the Match award.

So much happened in the second innings that we forgot about the knock from Nissanka. First Lankan to hit a double-ton. Avishka Fernando too played a handy knock but it was Pathum Nissanka who was the man of the hour. Sri Lanka might have won the game but Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai won the hearts of many Lankan supporters.

Nabi and Omarzai very cleverly cut off the spin duo, they did not give their wicket away and very sensibly build their innings. Suddenly, we saw something happening, Nabi and Omarzai hit boundaries in full flow and in no time they were celebrating their tons. Sri Lanka were scratching their head despite having enough runs to play but Afghanistan had a small hope somewhere in the dark. The duo added around 250 runs and it felt like this is now Afghanistan's game but Pramod Madushan in his last spell took Nabi's wicket which meant the end of their hopes. Omarzai alone though showed a fighting spirit but in the end, Afghanistan lost by a big margin.

We have no option but to first appreciate the knock from Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai. From 55 for 5 to 297 for 6. You just have to cometh the job these two have done. The game looked done and dusted long ago when Pramod Madushan ripped through the top order. Within the script, after Pramod Madushan, it would have been Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga running through the other batters but that was not the case.

Short in length and on off, Omarzai works it to long on for a single. Sri Lanka win by 42 runs.

SIX! This is full and outside off. Omarzai hangs back and hammers it over long off for a biggie. Two more runs needed for his 150.

Fuller and on off, Omarzai pushes it to point. No run taken.

On middle, fuller and it is hit to long on for a single.

A yorker on middle, Ikram Alikhil blocks it out.

Two leg byes! On the pads, Ikram Alikhil misses his clip and it rolls to fine leg for two.

Sri Lanka have been penalized for slow over rate. One more fielder inside the ring.

Angling on the pads, Ikram Alikhil plays it to square leg for a single.

Full and on middle, this is worked to mid-wicket for one.

A length ball, outside off, Omarzai slaps it to mid off. They do not take the run.

Fuller and outside off, this is pushed to point for a single.