SL VS AFG - 1st T20I, Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka, 2024

That's it from here. Sri Lanka go 1-0 up. The second game is on the 19th at the same venue. Do join us then. Till then stay cool and calm. Bye.

Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka captain: We were short 15-20 runs but our bowlers did a really good job. When the spinners come on, I try to do my basic things. We playing with 7 top batters and 1 allrounder and the batters need to take responsibility. Ask the crowd to support us in the next two games as well. 

Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan captain: To be honest I don't like losing. We gave our best on the field. We will try to come back in the next game. It was a chaseable score, we had a good powerplay, we gave wickets in the middle, it's part of the game. Credit to the Sri Lankan bowlers, they turned the game around. We did not have wickets at the end. I'm happy but I'm not satisfied with that. I want to finish games for my country.

Matheesha Pathirana | Player of the Match: Always wanted to win this match. This is my 2nd T20 for my country, I don't know how to say my happiness. Now it's not a new thing for me, I did this a lot of times when I played in the IPL. I still have to improve.

A host of awards for Pathirana who is the Player of the Match.

22:37 Local Time, 17:07 GMT, 22:37 IST: Sri Lanka win the first-ever T20I at Dambulla. Ibrahim Zadran batted through the innings and finished unbeaten but the others deserted him. They got off to a rapid start in the powerplay before Gurbaz holed out. And then regular wickets fell, Zadran stayed calm though and was looking to steer his side home as he anchored the innings. Hasaranga not at full fitness did not make much of an impact with the ball but whatever he did with his captaincy worked. His changes brought wickets and Pathirana was the one who turned it all around. Two wickets and just 3 runs off the 19th over when just 14 were required off 12 balls. Binura Fernando held his nerve in the final over as he nailed the wide line outside off and brought Sri Lanka home. Afghanistan will be kicking themselves for not winning this one and also maybe Zadran will question himself too, should he have gone a bit harder? Stay tuned for the presentation...

Binura Fernando to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, a half-volley outside off, Ibrahim Zadran lofts over extra-cover and takes four but it won't be enough. Sri Lanka hold their nerve to win

Sri Lanka almost home.

Binura Fernando to Ibrahim Zadran, 2 runs, dropped by Shanaka at deep backward point but it won't matter. Full outside off, Ibrahim Zadran throws the bat at this, thick outside-edge loops to Shanaka who comes and drops it, just two

Binura Fernando to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, fourth dot in a row. The wide yorker length delivery outside off, Ibrahim Zadran gets across and misses the drive, just over the tramline

Now it gets very difficult for Ibrahim Zadran. Both third man and fine-leg up.

Binura Fernando to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, another dot. A yorker length delivery outside off, driven to deep backward point and Ibrahim Zadran turns down the run

Binura Fernando to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, a low full-toss and across Ibrahim Zadran outside off, who drives and misses, a poor ball and he has missed out

11 off 5

Binura Fernando to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, full outside off, driven to sweeper cover and Ibrahim Zadran does not take the run

Binura Fernando [3.0-0-38-0] is back into the attack

Fazalhaq Farooqi, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Last over and Afghanistan need 11. Again a stump is being replaced. Some drama to add to the occasion.

Pathirana to Naveen-ul-Haq, out Bowled!! Knocked him over. Low percentage shot that. Naveen-ul-Haq makes room and exposes all his stumps, comes down the track too, full, fast and straight and the ball sneaks under the bat. Sri Lanka just one wicket away. Pathirana ends with four. Naveen-ul-Haq b Pathirana 1(2)

Pathirana to Naveen-ul-Haq, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!