{ "id": "15055", "author": "13", "cnmid": "0", "title": "World T20: Sri Lanka beat spirited Afghanistan by six wickets", "lang": "en", "series": "59", "cup_year": "2016", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Kolkata, 17 March<\/strong>\u0964 Seasoned opener Tillakaratne Dilshan anchored defending champions Sri Lanka to a comfortable six-wicket win over a spirited Afghanistan in a World Twenty 20 match at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The 39-year-old Dilshan batted through the innings to remain unconquered on a 56-ball 83 embellished with eight boundaries and three sixes, as Sri Lanka reached 155\/4 with seven balls to spare in reply to Afghanistan's 153\/7 in a Group 1 encounter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Skipper Angelo Mathews (21; 10 b, 3x4, 1x6) saw Sri Lanka through to victory in the company of Dilshan as the duo put on 42 runs in an unfinished fifth-wicket partnership before a 15,000 strong crowd.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Dilshan, who came up with an innings of quality, finished off the match by punishing Hamid Hassan into the mid-wicket fence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Set an asking rate of 7.7, Sri Lanka got off to a cracker of a start with Dinesh Chandimal smacking spinner Karim Sadiq for a four and a six of consecutive deliveries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sadiq was taken off after only one over, but Dawlat Zadran suffered more. Tillakaratne Dilshan lifted the right arm pacer into the legside fence for two back-to-back sixes, and Sri Lanka raced to 25 at the end of the third over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Ten more came off the fourth, before Mohammad Nabi got the firs breakthrough. Chandimal (18) went for a big hit, but managed only an edge, which was taken at mid on. Sri Lanka were 41\/1 in 5.2 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The dismissal slowed down the proceedings, and Rashid Khan dealt a further blow by sending back Lahiru Thirmanne (6).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Thisarra Perera and Dilshan then got involved in a 27-run partnership, as they tried to regain the momentum. Perera (12), who hit a six off Sadiq, fell victim to a close run out decision in the 13th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Trying to run a quick single after a misfield by Mohammad Shahzad, Perera was adjudged out as Shahzad collected the ball and knocked down the stumps. Whether Perrera had failed to make the crease or not - it seemed a touch and go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Chamara Kapugedera then joined Dilshan for another useful 26 run stand, that ended when Kapugedera (10) was also run out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

At that stage, Sri Lanka needed 41 of 29 balls, but skipper Angelo Mathews made it look easy with a blitz knock. The cameo included a six over mid wicker of Rashid Khan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Earlier, opting to bat, skipper Asghar Stanikzai led from the front with a half-century as Afghanistan posted a fighting total.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The 28-year-old Stanikzai (62; 47 b, 3x4, 4x6) not only came up with a sensational knock, but also benefited from two dropped catches, to pull Afghanistan from a point of trouble at 51\/4 to set the islanders an asking rate of 7.7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The highlight of the innings was a 61-run stand between the Kabul-born Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari (31; 14 b, 3x4, 2x6).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

For Sri Lanka, Thisara Perera (3\/33) was the most successful bowler.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Stanikzai, who had started cautiously, went full blast in the 13th over, hoicking Milinda Siriwardana for two consecutive sixes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Stanikzai's lucky but vastly useful knock came to an end in the penultimate over, as he failed to execute his shot properly, and ended up caught behind.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Agency<\/strong><\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2016\/03\/tillakaratne-dilshan3.jpg", "alt_img": "Sri Lanka beat spirited Afghanistan by six wickets in World T20", "alt_title": "Sri Lankan Batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "World T20: Sri Lanka beat spirited Afghanistan by six wickets", "seo_desc": "World T20: Sri Lanka beat spirited Afghanistan by six wicketsKolkata, 17 March\u0964 Seasoned opener Tillakaratne Dilshan anchored defending champions Sri Lanka to", "seo_keywords": "Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, ICC World T20 2016", "tag": "", "tagging": "", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "0", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "sri-lanka-beat-spirited-afghanistan-by-six-wickets-in-world-t20", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2294", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "0", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2016-03-17 23:57:00", "updated": "2016-03-17 23:57:00", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2016-03-17 23:57:00", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2016-03-17 23:57:00", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/sri-lanka-beat-spirited-afghanistan-by-six-wickets-in-world-t20-15055" }