Sri Lanka clinches thrilling victory in T20 series opener

In a thrilling contest at the Dambulla International Stadium, seamer Matheesha Pathirana, playing his second T20 international after 18 months, showcased a stellar performance, guiding Sri Lanka to a nail-biting 4-run victory over Afghanistan in the first match of the three-match T20 series.

In pursuit of 161 runs, Afghanistan found themselves on 156 for 9 as seamer Binura Fernando successfully defended the 11 runs required in the final over.

Despite skipper Ibrahim Zadran’s impressive performance with the bat, Sri Lanka managed to disrupt the Afghan run chase at crucial junctures, securing the win. 

Zadran remained unbeaten on 67, marking his fifth T20 half-century off 55 balls with eight boundaries.

Pathirana delivered an impressive performance with figures of 4-24, his best in T20s, while Shanaka’s quick dismissals of Mohammad Nabi and Najibulla Zadran set the stage for victory. Pathirana’s raw pace, combined with pinpoint accuracy, made him a lethal weapon, leading Sri Lanka to go one-up in the series.

The match, marking the first international game in six years at the venue and the first-ever T20 international at the venue, drew a passionate crowd who witnessed an enthralling contest as both teams battled fiercely for supremacy.

Hasaranga emerged as the top scorer for the hosts, making 67 runs off 32 balls after coming in at number six.