DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) – Sri Lanka struggled to a four-wicket win over a determined Afghanistan on Sunday in their Cricket World Cup Pool A match, requiring some late hitting by Thisara Perera to get out of early trouble and reach the target with ten balls to spare.
Afghanistan were rank outsiders to beat the former World Cup winners, but fiercely defended their 232-run total, and looked a strong winning chance when they reduced Sri Lanka to 51 for four. Sri Lanka were still a shaky 178 for six in the 42nd over.
However Perera’s unbeaten 47 off 32 balls guided his team to victory, after veteran Mahela Jayawardene scored 100 and captain Angelo Mathews made 44 to get Sri Lanka out of deep early difficulty.
Afghanistan 232 in 49.4 overs (Asghar Stanikzai 54, Samiullah Shenwari 38; Angelo Mathews 3-41, Lasith Malinga 3-41, Suranga Lakmal 2-36). Sri Lanka 236-6 in 48.2 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 100, Thisara Perera 47 not out, Angelo Mathews 44; Hamid Hassan 3-45). Sri Lanka won by four wickets.
