Opener Ibrahim Zadran smashed 106 to arrange an emphatic 60-run victory for Afghanistan within the opening One-Day International towards Sri Lanka on Friday.
Afghanistan posted 294 for eight after electing to bat as Ibrahim placed on key partnerships together with a 118-run second-wicket stand with Rahmat Shah, who made 52, in Pallekele.
Afghanistan quick bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib shared seven wickets between them because the vacationer bowled out Sri Lanka for 234.
Pathum Nissanka’s 85 and a threatening 66 by Wanindu Hasaranga went in useless as Afghanistan ended the Sri Lankan innings in 38 overs.
But it was the batting that set the tone for Afghanistan’s domination within the first-ever bilateral ODI collection between the 2 groups.
Ibrahim led the cost together with his second ODI century and Najibullah Zadran’s 25-ball 42 boosted the overall however some disciplined bowling ultimately checked Afghanistan, which appeared like getting over 300.
Hasaranga returned spectacular figures of two for 42 in his 10 overs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz justified the captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s choice to bat first as he hit a flurry of boundaries in his 53.
Ibrahim joined the assault as the 2 placed on 84 runs to set the tone for the batting cost.
Cameos from Najibullah and Naib, who made 22 off 24 balls, took on the bowlers ultimately however Sri Lanka gave away simply 31 runs within the remaining 5 overs and took 5 wickets.
The host began briskly however common wickets harm its progress with Naib choosing two to rattle the top-order.
Nissanka reached his fifty in 42 balls and placed on 47 runs with skipper Dasun Shanaka, who fell to Naib.
Farooqi denied Nissanka his ton however Hasaranga quickly hit again to lift hopes of a turnaround.
He smashed Mohammad Nabi for a six and 4 fours in a 22-run thirty first over and raised his fifty in 31 balls.
Wickets saved falling and Hasaranga was the final man out to Farooqi, who completed with figures of 4 for 49.
The loss dented Sri Lanka’s probabilities of a direct qualification to the 50-over World Cup in India subsequent yr with essential Super League factors up for grabs within the collection.
The second match is on Sunday on the identical venue.