World T20: Dilshan drives Sri Lanka to win over Afghanistan

Brief Scores: Afghanistan 153/7 in 20 overs (Stanikzai 62(47), Shenwari 31(14), Perera 3/33) lost to Sri Lanka 155/4 in 18.5 overs (Dilshan 83*(56), Mathews 21*(10), Nabi 1/25) by six wickets

With the game slowly slipping away from the Afghans, skipper Stanikzai introduced Mohammad Nabi into the attack, and the off-spinner delivered for his captain in the second ball of the over by removing Chandimal for 18.

Thisara Perrera, who earlier shone with the ball with three wickets, came in and sent Karim Sadiq for a delightful six flat and straight down the ground. But he departed soon after run out by a great piece of fielding by Shahzad. While wickets were tumbling at the other end, 39-year old veteran Dilshan was showing the kids how T20 ought to be played – he reached his fifty, three balls after Perrera's dismissal and kept going with a four and six off the next two overs.

Just when things appeared over with only 41 runs needed off 29 balls, Kapugedera who looked in fine nick got out in an unfortunate manner as Dilshan's drive took a touch off Nabi's hand to crash into the stumps at the other end. But skipper Angelo Mathews, who walked in, slogged his way through the 17th over to bring the target to 23 off the last three overs. With Afghanistan leaking runs at the crucial moments, Dilshan and Mathews took the team home with seven balls to spare. 

With the ball struggling to reach Chandimal behind the stumps, Afghanistan got off to a slow start scoring just six runs off the first two overs. Mohammad Shahzad, who has been at his destructive best in the qualifiers, lost his patience and started flashing his bat at anything and everything. He perished trying to pull a length ball off Angelo Mathews, only to send it straight up in the air to give Chameera an easy catch at mid-on.

Unlike his partner, who departed after a reckless shot, Noor Ali Zadran played a mature innings at the other end, and along with the skipper, Stanikzai took the team forward scoring 36 runs in the powerplay. When it seemed that the Afghans were slowly moving upwards in their scoring rate, Rangana Herath delivered a sucker punch by cleaning up Noor Ali Zadran around his legs. Karim Sadiq arrived next and returned soon without disturbing the scorers after a seven-ball stint edging one from Thisara Perera to Chandimal behind the stumps. It was four down shortly as Mohammad Nabi also returned to the pavilion after Herath hit him in the pads right in front of the stumps.