SL v Afg World T20 Review: Dilshan special guides Sri Lanka in a tricky chase

Asghar Stanikzai, the Afghanistan captain, chose to bat in his team’s Super 10 opener against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens. Stanikzai expected the pitch to play a little slow and hoped his side could put up a good total which they did, however, didn’t prove enough. A target of 152 was overhauled by Sri Lanka thanks to a well-paced innings from their experienced opener Tillakaratne Dilshan who hammered an unbeaten 83 off 56 balls that featured 8 fours and 3 maximums.

Afghanistan made one change to the batting line-up that played their last first-round match against Zimbabwe, with Karim Sadiq replacing Gulbadin Naib while there was no space in the XI for the left-arm quick Shapoor Zadran or the left-arm spinner Amir Hamza.

Lasith Malinga, who has been struggling with a knee injury over the last few weeks, did not find a place in the Lankan eleven. Their attack instead contained two frontline quicks in Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Kulasekara, with back-up from all-rounders Thisara Perera and the captain Angelo Mathews, and the lone specialist spinner in Rangana Herath. Lahiru Thirimanne, returned to their T20 XI for the first time since May 2014, with Dasun Shanaka missing out.

Afghanistan lost Mohammad Shahzad (8) in the 3rd over as he tried to pull one from skipper Angelo Mathews into the leg side but a bit of out swing helped take a leading edge which lobbed up for mid-on to take. Noor Ali Zadran batted well for his 20 off 23 balls that included 3 fours, however, lost his leg stump to Rangana Herath. His wicket was followed two more as the veteran spinner and Perera bowled well in tandem.

Karim Sadiq (0) struggled for 6 balls before running down to the pitch to Perera looking for another big slog down the ground, however, got a faint edge which was gleefully accepted by Chandimal. Herath bowled a flat one on the middle stump that skids on with the arm to strike Mohammad Nabi (3) plumb in front. It was an easy decision for the umpire and Afghanistan was spiralling downwards at 51/4 at the end of the 11th over.

What followed was an incredible fightback led by their skipper. Stanikzai hammered 3 fours and 4 sixes in a knock of 62 off 47 balls that showcased his brute strength as well as calm temperament. He was well supported by Samiullah Shenwari who hammered an equally important 31 off 14 including 3 fours and 2 maximums.  Stanikzai was dismissed by Perera who took 3/33 by adding another wicket of Shafiqullah (5). Kulasekara took the wicket of Shenwari, however, proved expensive with a spell of 1/43. Najibullah Zadran (12* off 5) finished the innings by hammering a 6 and a 4 off the first two balls he faced.

Also read: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan World T20: 5 Talking Points of the match

Sri Lanka got off to a decent start before losing Dinesh Chandimal for 18 off 17 balls that featured 2 fours and 1 six. He went for a big heave against Nabi but didn’t get it off the middle and gave a catch to mid-wicket. Rashid Khan’s leg-break induced an inside edge off the bat of Thirimanne which clattered into the stumps to reduce the islanders to 58/2 in the 9th over. The left-hander was struggling to pick the variations and wasn’t able to rotate the strike either. To a slightly flatter one from Rashid outside off he throws his hands at the ball away from his body and paid the price.

The wickets of Perera (12) and Chamara Kapugedera (10) kept the Afghans interested. Both batsmen were run out and the latter’s wicket reduced the Lankan score to 113/4 in 15.1 overs. Afghanistan’s ground fielding let them down on many occasions as Dilshan and Mattews made merry. Mathews hammered a six and 3 fours to finish on an unbeaten 21 off 10.

Brief Scores:

Afghanistan: 153/7 in 20 (A Stanikzai 62; T Perera 3/33)

Sri Lanka: 155/4 in 18.5 (T Dilshan 83*; M Nabi 1/25)

Player of the Match: Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)