World T20: Dilshan downs gritty Afghans

KOLKATA: Defending champions Sri Lanka had to toil hard to get past Afghanistan by six wickets and make a winning start in the Super10s of World Twenty20 at the Eden Gardens on Thursday evening.
A day after Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi led from the front to guide his team to victory against Bangladesh, Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai displayed almost similar grit and determination to help his side put up a fighting 153 for seven after electing to bat on winning the toss.
However, Lanka was lucky as their opener Tillakaratne Dilshan decided to choose Thursday's match to get some runs under his belt. The Dilscoop was back after a long time as the veteran batsman hit pacer Dawlat Zadran for a six in the third over using the shot. He followed it up with another six in the next ball and then hit Hamid Hassan for consecutive boundaries in the very next over.
He got good support from Dinesh Chandimal who hit a 17-ball 18 with the help of two fours and one six. Afghanistan were able to check the flow of runs with the introduction of the spinners as Mohammad Nabi provided the breakthrough by having Chandimal caught at mid-wicket by Samullah Shenwari in his very first over.
Young leg spinner Rashid Khan also bowled a tight line and length but in the end their inexperience let them down as Dilshan remained unbeaten on 83 to help Lanka romp home losing four wickets with seven balls remaining.
However, Afghanistan did put up a good fight which was orchestrated by Asghar. The skipper took full advantage of the two lives he enjoyed at his individual scores of 34 and 44, to hit a 47-ball 62 which had three fours and four sixes.
Lanka, however, missed Lasith Maligna who failed to recover on time from his knee injury as Afghanistan, who were 47 for three after the first 10 overs, collected 96 runs in the last 10 to put up a fighting score on a pitch which was not conducive for stroke-making. But the only ICC Associate Member in Super 10s were unable to keep the pressure on till the end.