England : Sri Lanka observed the dramatic batting collapse by imploding from 144-1 to 201 all out against Afghanistan in a rain-affected match at Sophia Gardens. Still, the Island of Dharma recovered from the huge loss over Afghanistan for 152 and registered a 34 – run victory for its debut triumph at the Cricket World Cup on Tuesday

Chasing a revised target of 187 from a maximum 21 overs, Afghanistan responded with a to and fro battle, slumping from 34-0 to 57-5 and then battling back through a 64-run stand between Gulabuddin Naib (23) and Najibullah Zadran (43). Sri Lankans retaliated and captured the final five wickets for 31 runs, with recalled seamer Nuwan Pradeep getting 4-31.
The 1996 World Cup winner lost its opening group game to New Zealand by 10 wickets. Afghanistan has two defeats from two matches, after a loss to Australia on Saturday. The match in Cardiff featured 52 extras; Sri Lanka’s 35 was the second-highest scorer in the scorecard to strengthen the feeling this was a contest between the two teams likely fighting to avoid last place in the 10-team group.

The Afghans’ only win at a World Cup remains only the one against Scotland in 2015 but they’ll feel this match slipped from their grasp, especially when Sri Lanka was reeling at 159-6 after three wickets in one over from Mohammad Nabi. Sri Lanka, which made the fastest 10-over start to the tournament by racing to 79-0, lost its last nine wickets for 57 runs in 15.4 overs.

Nuwan Pradeep and Lasith Malinga shared 7 wickets. Kusal perera (78) remained the only batsman to contribute the half century for his country. Nuwan Pradeep was crowned the man of the match for his four-wickets haul!