KARACHI: Afghanistan’s overall record is respectable enough with 59 wins against 52 losses in 115 One-day Internationals but their head-to-head record against teams ranked above them is rather disappointing.

Sri Lanka in comparison may have lost more ODIs (416) than they have won (380) in 838 matches but they had the distinction of winning the World Cup title in 1996.

These two sides have played against each just three times with Sri Lanka having a 2-1 lead, including their four-wicket victory during Afghanistan’s World Cup debut in 2015. That encounter took place at the University Oval in Dunedin on March Feb 22.

After losing the toss, the Afghans made 232 in 49.4 overs with Asghar Afghan compiling a half-century (54 off 57 balls). Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews, who led his country then, each returned identical figures of 3-41.

Sri Lanka’s chase was anchored successfully by Mahela Jayawardene’s even 100 (120 balls) as the former captain and Mathews shared a game-changing partnership of 126 after Sri Lanka were left reeling at 4-51 after both openers, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne, had gone for ducks and the redoubtable Kumar Sangakkara (7) with the score on 18.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2019