Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan raise the bat to celebrate the team's win after the World T20 cricket tournament match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Source: Getty Images
Sri Lankan batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan’s hit eight fours and three sixes off 56 balls to give the 2014 champions a strong start.
But then Sri Lanka struggled to build other big partnerships and Afghanistan looked like they were still in with a fighting chance.
However, once captain Angelo Mathews joined Dilshan, they ensured a smooth ending with seven balls to spare.
Earlier, Afghanistan which elected to bat first, got off to a slow start against a consistent Sri Lankan bowling attack and at 10 overs were merely 47-3.
Afghanistan batsman Asghar Stanikzai celebrates 50 runs during the match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Dunedin on February 22, 2015. Source: Getty Images
But then captain Asghar Stanikzai delivered a spectacular performance of 62 runs in 47 balls with three fours and four sixes firing his young Central Asian side to a respectable score of 153-7.
In the end that was not enough, allowing Sri Lanka to claim victory in their World Twenty20 opener.
The final score: Afghanistan 153-7 vs Sri Lanka 155-3
"They had some quality bowlers but we managed well in the middle with twos and threes, ' Man of the Match' Dilshan said. "The senior guys need to stand up and do it for the team. The middle order can bat around us."
