Cardiff: Sri Lanka thrashed Afghanistan by 34-runs in a rain-affected match to register their first win in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019, which started on May 30, here at the Sophia Gardens, on Tuesday.
The Afghan openers Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai gave their side a decent start by putting up a 34-run stand for the first wicket. Lasith Malinga draw the first blood for Sri Lanka by removing the Afghan wicket-keeper batsman from the attack.
Following Shahzad's departure, the Afghan side's batting collapsed as they lost four wickets for 21 runs.
Skipper Gulbadin Naib along with Najibullah Zadran put Afghan innings back on track after five early departure. But was not able to guide their side to victory.
Najibullah Zadran smashed 43 runs off 56 balls before getting run-out by Sri Lankan skipper.
For Sri Lanka, Nuwan Pradeep was the standout performer with the ball, he bagged four wickets giving away just 31 runs.
Malinga took three wickets for 39 runs.
Earlier, despite a good start, the Sri Lankan middle-order failed to convert it into a good total as Afghanistan off-spinner Mohammad Nabi rattled their top-order to restrict them to 201 runs in the rain-affected match at the Sophia Gardens, here on Tuesday.
Rain played spoilsport in the clash as the contest was reduced to 41 overs and Afghanistan were handed a revised 187-run target.
Nabi was the wrecker-in-chief with figures of 4/30, while Dawlat Zadran and Rashid Khan picked a couple of wickets each.
Opener Kusal Perera was the lone fighter and top scorer for his side with a valiant 78 runs off 81 balls, while all other his teammates succumbed before the minnows' bowling attack. Perera, who departed in the 33rd over, smashed eight boundaries in his innings.
Put into bat, Dimuth Karunaratne (30 off 45) and Perera took the island nation to a flying start as their scorecard read a decent 52 for no loss in the initial five overs. The duo then steadily took their side near the three-digit mark. However, when Sri Lanka were at 92 runs, the whole scenario changed as Karunaratne while trying to clear the boundary, mistimed Nabi's delivery and ended up handing a catch to Najibullah Zadran at long-on in the 14th over.
Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne (25 off 34) were then involved in a short 52-run partnership for the second wicket. However, the latter's stay was cut short by Rashid Khan in the 22nd over. Thirimanne's fall saw Sri Lanka suffering a batting collapse as they lost three wickets of Kusal Mendis (2), Angelo Mathews (0) and Dhananjaya de Silva (0) within the next 15 runs.
Perera tried his best to keep the scorers busy but lacked support from the others as incoming batsman Thisara Perera (2) also threw his wicket, leaving Lanka reeling at 159/6. Dawlat Zadran added more sorrows to Lankan camp when he packed back Isuru Udana (10) before Perera also became a victim of Rashid before rain stopped play.
After the rains stopped, Sri Lanka could only manage another 21 runs as unbeaten Suranga Lakmal chipped in with 15 runs, while Lasith Malinga contributed with four runs.
