Tillakaratne Dilshan responded positively to Sri Lanka’s search for batting stability with an unbeaten 83 (56b, 8x4, 3x6) that took his side past a resurgent Afghanistan in the ICC World Twenty20 at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.
The victory enabled the islanders recover from the three successive losses suffered in the Asia Cup.
The well-crafted innings from Dilshan helped defending champion Sri Lanka overhaul the target of 154 set by the Afghans, with six wickets and seven balls to spare. Earlier, batting first, Afghanistan reached a competitive 153 for seven, thanks to its captain Asghar Stanikzai (62, 47b, 3x4, 4x6).
Dilshan, who is one of the most innovative batsmen in limited-over cricket, underlined his value to the team even at the age of 39.
The opener added an unbroken 42 for the fifth wicket with captain Angelo Mathews (21 not out), the two guiding the side past the finish line.
Sri Lanka started the chase confidently as Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal (18) put on 41. But once the latter was caught at mid-wicket after mistiming a heave, and Lahiru Thirimanne (6), Thisara Perera (12) and Chamara Kapugedera (10) too fell, the innings lapsed into a period of uncertainty with the score at 113 for four in the 16th over.
Dilshan’s knock turned out to be the decisive factor, the win renewing Sri Lanka’s confidence ahead of its meetings against bigger opposition.
Spectacular turnaround Opting to bat, Afghanistan made a spectacular turnaround in the last 10 overs as Stanikzai went after the Sri Lankan bowling.
Afghanistan, which qualified after beating Zimbabwe, did not look set for a big score, managing only 47 for three in 10 overs.
Stanikzai, joined by Samiullah Shenwari (31), began the rescue act with a 61-run stand for the fifth wicket, the runs coming off just 33 balls and significantly changing the scenario.
Towering sixes Afghanistan had two big overs in the second half of the innings. Stanikzai hit two giant sixes off left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardana to pick up 16 runs in the 13th over.
The Afghanistan skipper, who was dropped twice, made the reprieves count.
Najibullah Zadran’s lusty hitting in the last over, bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara, fetched 17.
The last five overs yielded 59.
Scoreboard
Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad c Chameera b Mathews 8 (12b, 1x4), Noor Ali Zadran b Herath 20 (23b, 3x4), Asghar Stanikzai c Chandimal b Perera 62 (47b, 3x4, 4x6), Karim Sadiq c Chandimal b Perera 0 (7b), Mohammad Nabi lbw b Herath 3 (4b), Samiullah Shenwari c Perera b Kulasekara 31 (14b, 3x4, 2x6), Shafiqullah c Thirimanne b Perera 5 (7b), Dawlat Zadran (not out) 5 (3b), Najibullah Zadran (not out) 12 (3b, 1x4, 1x6); Extras (lb-1, w-6): 7; Total (for seven wickets in 20 overs): 153.
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Shahzad), 2-44 (Noor Ali), 3-46 (Sadiq), 4-51 (Nabi), 5-112 (Shenwari), 6-132 (Shafiqullah), 7-136 (Asghar).
Sri Lanka bowling: Angelo Mathews 3-0-17-1, Nuwan Kulasekara 4-0-43-1, Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-19-0, Rangana Herath 4-0-24-2, Thisara Perera 4-0-33-3, Milinda Siriwardana 1-0-16-0.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal c Shenwari b Nabi 18 (17b, 2x4, 1x6), Tillakaratne Dilshan (not out) 83 (56b, 8x4, 3x6), Lahiru Thirimanne b Rashid 6 (13b, 1x4), Thisara Perera run out 12 (8b, 1x6), Chamara Kapugedera run out 13 (9b, 1x4), Angelo Mathews (not out) 21 (10b, 3x4, 1x6); Extras (b-4, w-1): 5; Total (for four wickets in 18.5 overs): 155.
Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Chandimal), 2-58 (Thirimanne), 3-85 (Perera), 4-113 (Kapugedera).
Afghanistan bowling: Karim Sadiq 2-0-21-0, Hamid Hassan 3.5-0-38-0, Dawlat Zadran 3-0-31-0, Mohammad Nabi 4-1-25-1, Rashid Khan 4-0-27-1, Samiullah Shenwari 2-0-9-0.
Toss: Afghanistan.
Man-of-the-match: Dilshan.
Sri Lanka won by six wickets with seven balls remaining.
