The hills in Pallekelle rained boundaries as Nissanka double century sinks Afganistan – Historic first double hundred gives Lankans first up win – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor)
Pathum Nissanka smashed a whirlwind 210 not out off only 139 balls to lead Sri Lanka to a comfortable win over Afghanistan in Pallekelle on a day it rained sixers and fours as the visitors did not go down without a fight.
Nissanka single-handedly sprayed the Afghanistan attack to all parts of Pallekelle in a memorable knock that will be long remembered for many reasons, especially being the first double centurion for his country in this format.
His Player-of-the-match effort saw Sri Lanka amass 389 for 3 wickets which seemed way beyond reaching. But the Afghanistan batters thought otherwise making a valiant effort to run it down before falling 42 runs short.
The thrilling encounter produced over 700 runs as the batters on both sides exploited a dead track that produced little assistance to the bowlers. Only 10 wickets fell in the entire match.
But the day belonged to Nissanka whose run hungry effort saw him notch another important milestone to Sri Lanka cricket, his 220 not out laced with 8 sixers and 20 fours. He was assisted by Avishka Fernando who raced along to 88 off 88 balls with 3 sixers and 8 fours before they were parted in the 27th over amassing 182 for the opening stand.
Nissanka also surpassed a 24 year record held by Sanath Jayasuriya whose 189 against India was the highest by a Sri Lankan batsman in one- day cricket.
Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrema added 110 for the fourth wicket to boost the total to 389 for 3 in 50 overs.
Afganistan in reply, lost wickets at early intervals while Azmatullah Omarzao vainly fought fire with fire smashing the Sri Lanka attack to all parts. At 5 for 55 in 8.3 overs, the Afgans looked in dire straits.
Skipper Mohammad Nabi then joined the run fest with Omarzai sending tremors through the Sri Lanka camp as they ran riot putting on 242 for the sixth wicket in record time.
But Pramod Madushan caught and bowled Nabi to break the threatening partnership in the 46th over and they ran out of overs in the frantic run chase.
Madushan was the best among the Sri Lanka bowlers grabbing 4 wickets while Dushmantha Chameera picked up two.
Omarzai 159 off 115 balls, with 6 sixers and 13 fours, Nabi 36 off 130 with 3 sixers and 15 fours very nearly pulled off the impossible.
Afganistan are no mugs in the shorter version of the game as memories of the last World Cup will attest. They had Australia against the ropes until end Maxwell pulled off a Houdini act to see the Aussies to safety in a thriller.
Sri Lanka took the points in the first of three encounters and if this game is anything to go by, it points to a riveting series.
