Sri Lanka won the high scoring battle

Sri Lanka registered a 42-run win over Afghanistan in the first ODI of the series at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Friday. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bowl first.

After losing the toss, Sri Lanka were off to a solid start, with both openers making an 182-run partnership for the first wicket. Avishka Fernando scored run-a-ball 88 runs. 43 runs later, Skipper Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 16 runs. After the dismissal of Kusal Mendis Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pathum Nissanka made a 120-run partnership for the 3rd wicket in quick time. Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 45 runs in 36 balls. Pathum Nissanka was the star of the show and scored a record-breaking 210 runs in 139 balls. With that, Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODI matches. Eventually, Sri Lanka managed to score 381 runs for a loss of 3 wickets in their 50 overs.

In reply to that, Afghanistan were off to a shaky start, and they lost five wickets for 55 runs. After that, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi made a 242-run partnership for the 6th wicket and kept hope alive for Afghanistan. Mohammad Nabi scored 136 runs. Azmatullah Omarzai was the top scorer for Afghanistan, scoring an unbeaten 149 runs. For Sri Lanka, Pramod Madushan claimed four wickets. At the end of the match, Afghanistan managed to score 339 runs for a loss of six wickets in their 50 overs.