SL deny Afghanistan upset
| MATCH 12: SRI LANKA VS AFGHANISTAN |
| Afghanistan 232 (49.4 Overs) |
| Sri Lanka 236/6 (48.2 Overs) Sri Lanka won the match by 4 wickets |
Sri Lanka denied an Afghanistan upset at Dunedin today riding on the match-saving century of Mahela Jayawardene in the 12th match of the ICC cricket World Cup 2015.
.@OfficialSLC has survived a massive scare to beat @ACBofficials by four wickets in @Lovedunedin. SCORECARD: http://t.co/CD26MEVKTV #SLvAFG
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 22, 2015
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Put to bat first, Afghanistan made a fighting score of 232 all out, riding on the 50 of Samiullah Senwari and contributions from the top and middle order batsmen.
Malinga apparently came around in form as he took three wickets along with economy bowling. Mathews claimed three while Lakmal two and Perera and Herath one each.
Coming back to chase the score, Sri Lanka made an abysmal start to their innings struggling to face the fast bowling of Afghanistan – four wickets were lost early.
It was then Mahela Jayawardene, 100, and Angelo Mathews, 44, put up a 126-run partnership to revive Sri Lanka and force a way back into the match.
Near the end, Lankan fans were in for a scare after both settled batsmen went out in one over and the new batsmen were falling behind in the asking rate.
But, Thisara Perera broke loose finally and guided Sri Lanka home with his 47 not out.
Hamid Hasan was the most successful of the Afghan bowlers claiming three wickets. Dawlat Zadran and Shapoor Zadran took one wickets apiece.
CHECK OUT: Watch Jayawardene's bat splitting in a delivery of Zadran:
This is Sri Lanka's first win in the tournament after beaten by New Zealand in the World Cup opener. Afghanistan have lost both their matches – the first one against Bangladesh.
Century maker @MahelaJay is named player of the match for his match-saving 100 off 120 balls. #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/0mY5BzDTeb
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) February 22, 2015
Afghanistan
Javed Ahmadi, Afsar Zazai (wk), Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi (capt), Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Nasir Jamal, Usman GhaniSri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardena, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews (capt), Jeevan Mendis, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake,
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