By Leonard Ratnayake
A late rally by Sri Lankan cricketers earned themselves the first win in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup tournament when they beat Afghanistan by 34 runs in DLS method in a rain-curtailed match at Cardiff Cricket grounds in Wales.
Losing the toss for the second time in at Cardiff, Sri Lanka were given the first lease of the wicket but got off to a good start with a changed opening combination with Kusal Perera joining skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. The pair got off to a good start with an opening stand of 91 runs in 16 over before skipper Karunaratne departed for 30. Kusal was then joined by Lahiru Thirimanna to add another 52 runs and the latter fell for 25 when Sri Lanka was in a commanding position of 144 in the 22nd over.
Sri Lanka’s wooed middle order Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews and Dananjaya de Silva were seen walking up and down to the from pavilion to the pitch in hasty leaving Sri Lanka again in trouble against Afghanistan. The result was Sri Lanka was all out for 201 in the 37th over. Kusal Perera out in the 32nd over for 78 runs for the eight wicket.
In a rain-hit match, Afghanistan was given a target of 187 to win in 41 overs. The Afghan opener Harzat Zazal sent the Sri Lankan pacies for all around the ground in the first overs. In Malinga’s fifth over, Kusal Mendis misjudged and dropped an easy catch to the depression of the Sri Lankans, but fortunately, captain Karunaratne dug off a straight catch to dismiss Mohamed Shazhad drawing first blood to Sri Lankan victory.
Nuwan Pradeep made use of his opportunity to the best as he claimed 4 wickets to change the balance of the match in Sri Lanka’s way, helped by marvelous fielding efforts by Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera to join their captain with Malinga to merit a Sri Lankan victory in the 2019 ICC WC tournament.
Afghan batters were never given a chance to settle and experienced Malinga finished off the tail with three wickets.
Be the first to comment