SL VS AFG - 1st ODI, Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

So, Afghanistan's first ever bilateral series on Sri Lankan soil starts on a positive note. They're 1-0 up and have pocketed valuable Super League points as well. They came out all guns blazing in the batting department, high on intent and made good use of a fine batting surface even though they didn't finish as well. Then the bowlers took over although Sri Lanka will be gutted not to have chased this one down. But it's a short turnaround and the two teams battle again on Sunday. Do join us for that one. Until then, this is Hari Sadanandan signing off on behalf of Raju Peethala and Vinod. Cheers!

Hashmatullah Shahidi | Afghanistan captain: Feeling good. The way the boys played, especially in the batting. The way we started and ended the innings, proud of my team. Last seven overs (with the bat), we didn't play the way we wanted. Maybe 30 runs short but our bowlers did a great job. Plan was simple for the bowlers - just stick to wicket-to-wicket and try to build dot ball pressure.

Dasun Shanaka | Sri Lanka captain: It's disappointing. We didn't execute our plans in bowling. 290-plus on this surface, it's good pitch but still, we could have done better. The surface was good, we scored 230-odd in 38 overs but just didn't have partnerships at all. We didn't control well with the ball in the middle overs but did well at the death. Difference between the two sides was the partnerships. Their side batted around Ibrahim and had three partnerships. We had starts but couldn't convert it. We have to win three out of five games (for WC qualification) and we're looking forward to that.

Ibrahim Zadran | Player of the Match: I'm really happy with my innings. Glad that I performed well. We wanted to bat first if we won the toss and it was a good toss to win. Pitch was good for batting, read the surface and took my time, and it worked. The track remained the same throughout, we wanted to get to 320, that was the plan. Our bowlers did a great job.

21:49 Local Time, 16:19 GMT, 21:49 IST: Farooqi is roaring around in delight and his mates mob him. A clinical win for the visitors. Spare a thought for Hasaranga though. Counterattacked singlehandedly at the back end, kept his side in the hunt but he just ran out of partners before being the last man out. Run rate was never an issue for Sri Lanka at any stage - they always scored at a healthy clip even as wickets fell, but it's that wickets column that hurt them badly. Losing by 60 runs in an ODI isn't a rare event but being bowled out in 38 overs will certainly hurt the Lankans. Nissanka set the base for them with a fluent half-century but like Hasaranga, he too didn't get much support till the two got together. Just when it seemed like the partnership might stir the hosts forward, Nissanka chopped on to Farooqi who was easily the standout bowler for Afghanistan. Naib gave him good support and just one wicket of spin out of ten is a rare sight for Afghanistan. Tells you how well they used the conditions on offer.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, out Bowled!! Farooqi wraps things up and Afghanistan go 1-0 up with a comfortable win! Hasaranga had backed away to make room all innings and it's finally gotten rid of him. Tries to hit this square through the off-side but it's another slower ball from Farooqi, forces a bottom-edge that dislodges the bails. A valiant innings from Hasaranga, one of the finest lone warrior acts but he just didn't have support at the end. Hasaranga b Fazalhaq Farooqi 66(46) [4s-10 6s-2]

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, FOUR, misses the yorker and it's a full toss that Hasaranga dispatches to the fence. Made room early and smashed it away past the diving extra cover fielder. No chance for deep point to get across

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, no run, very full and on off, Hasaranga square-drives this to sweeper cover. Declines the single. Perhaps a bit too late to do it now. Should probably have farmed the strike from earlier

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, no run, how has this missed the stumps? Close shave for Hasaranga! Slower ball from Farooqi, well-disguised and don't think Hasaranga picked it. Backed away early and had a wild slash at this. Misses and it wasn't far away from kissing the off stump

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, no run, quite full, Hasaranga bunts the drive firmly but straight to cover

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Hasaranga, no run, quite full and on off, Hasaranga drills the drive to mid-off

Fazalhaq Farooqi [8.0-0-45-3] is back into the attack

Rashid Khan to Kumara, no run, flatter and on off, Kumara stays back and defends

Lahiru Kumara, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Rashid Khan to Rajitha, out Lbw!! Another marginal call that goes Afghanistan's way! They are just one wicket away now. It was always going to be the googly from Rashid against the tailender, it's flat as well and despite Rajitha's big stride forward, he can't get bat on it. Struck on the pad and it looked good in real time itself. Loud shout from Rashid and the ump eventually gives in. Crucial call because like Theekshana, it's umpire's call on ball tracking for Rajitha as well. Rajitha lbw b Rashid Khan 8(5) [4s-2]

Rashid Khan to Rajitha, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!

Rajitha has been given out LBW. He goes for the review. Don't think it'll save him. Unless he has gotten some bat. Doesn't seem so. Flat line on UltraEdge. Umpire's call on ball tracking.

Rashid Khan to Hasaranga, 1 run, sliding in from outside off, Hasaranga stays back and punches it away to sweeper cover

Rashid Khan to Hasaranga, no run, flatter one on off, Hasaranga stays back and defends