Images from the World Cup Pool A match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Dunedin on Sunday
Veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene struck a resilient century to help the Sri Lankan pull off a tight 4-wicket win after Afghanistan gave the Islanders a mighty scare in their Pool A match of the cricket World Cup in Dunedin on Saturday.
- Jayawardene, Perera lead SL to nervy win over Afghanistan
Chasing 233 for a win at the University Oval, Sri Lanka were reduced to 51 for four before a 126-run fifth wicket partnership between Mahela (100) and skipper Angelo Mathews (44) helped them scrape to their target in 48.2 overs.
Openers Lahiru Thirimanne (0) and Tilakaratne Dilshan (0) disappointed with new-ball bowlers Dawlat Zadran (1-44) and Shapoor Zadran (1-48) making early inroads.
Kumar Sangakkara (7) couldn't stay long as first-change pacer Hamid Hassan (3-45) got the veteran batsman cleaned up and soon sent Dimuth Karunaratne (23) back in the hut.
Mahela, registering his 35th ODI century, and Mathews then did the grinding bit for 28 odd overs as the duo combined the right dose of caution and aggression.
But just when the Lankans thought that they are running away with the game, Mathews was run out in the 41st over and Hassan scalped Mahela, who struck 8 fours and a six in his 120-ball stay, soon after to take them by the sword.
Jeevan Mendis (9 not out) and Thisara Perera (47 not out) then stitched an unbeaten 58-run partnership, maintaining a run-rate of over 8, to take Lanka over line.
Perera kept his cool till the end to smash 6 fours and a six in his 26-ball blitz.
The Islanders survived a jittery moment in the 48th over when Hassan got Mendis caught behind only to see the third umpire overturn the decision after the left-hander's referral. Sri Lanka required 14 runs to win at that time.
The little bit of luck is what Lanka needed as they finally registered their first win after losing to New Zealand in the tournament opener.
Earlier put into bat, top-order batsman Asghar Stanikzai stroked an easy half-century to help Afghanistan to 232 all out in their sitpulated 50 overs.
The Afghans lost their openers early but an 88-run third wicket partnership between Stanikzai (54), who registered his fifth ODI fifty, and Samiuallah Shenwari (38) helped the minnows recover.
Sri Lanka though were always on top of the game as left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (1-41) sent Stanikzai (5 fours and a six), back in the pavilion and a few overs later Shenwari fell to Perera (1-54).
Nabi (21) stuck around for a while only to be cleaned up by Lasith Malinga (3-41).
Wicketkeeper-batsman Afsar Zazai (19) and Mirwais Ashraf (28) did try to stem the rot by stitching up a 46-run seventh wicket partnership but could not stand the Malinga test.
Medium pacer Mathews (3-41) who led by example after drawing first blood in opener Nawroz Mangal's (10) scalp, came back in the final overs to pick two more wickets and never allowed the Afghan tail to wag.
For the Islanders, new-ball bowler Suranga Lakmal (2-36) also made an impact after sending back opener Javed Ahmadi (24) and Najibullah Zadran (10).
