Vishwa, Jayasuriya and Asitha knock Afghanistan over for 198

Afghanistan’s lower order fell away rapidly after tea, losing the last five wickets for 29 runs as the team crashed to 198 all out inside 63 overs.

They were first preyed on by Vishwa Fernando who, in an intense spell, had wicketkeeper-batter Ikram Alikhil caught by a diving Nishan Madushka at gully, before he pinned debutant allrounder Zia-ur-Rehman in front some overs later. Qais Ahmad was then out lbw trying to sweep Prabath Jayasuriya,  reviewing unsuccessfully before walking off.

Asitha Fernando whom captains have increasingly turned to for tail-end wickets, then wiped out Nos. 9 and 11, taking a simple return chance off Nijat Masood before slipping a yorker into debutant Mohammad Saleem’s off stump two balls later.

Those two wickets meant Asitha finished with figures of 3 for 24, which was reward for his excellent early spells. Vishwa took 4 for 51, and Jayasuriya claimed 3 for 67. Sri Lanka’s debutant – Chamika Gunasekara – did not get a bowl in the hour it took Sri Lanka to dismiss Afghanistan after tea.

Afghanistan will be disappointed with their first innings, especially after Rahamat Shah’s  91 and early partnerships had at one stage set them up at 109 for 2. They lost their last eight wickets for 89 runs.

Scores:
Afghanistan 198 (Rahmat Shah 91, Noor Ali Zadran 31,  Ikram Alikhil 21, Quais Ahmad 21,  Vishwa Fernando 4-51, Asitha Fernando  3-24, Prabath Jayasuriya 3-67) vs Sri Lanka