Thrilling Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard — T20I at Dambulla, 2024
Match Overview
The highly anticipated Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team match scorecard reflects a thrilling and closely contested encounter from the Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka in early 2024. This specific cricket match was the 1st T20I of a highly competitive three-match Twenty20 International series. The game took place on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the historic Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, a venue known for its balanced pitch that offers something for both batters and bowlers as the game progresses.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit the evening conditions and put the Sri Lankan batting lineup under early pressure. The strategy initially worked, as the Afghan pacers struck early. However, Sri Lanka showed remarkable resilience and depth in their batting order. After losing early wickets, a blistering counterattack led by captain Wanindu Hasaranga propelled the hosts to a competitive total of 160 runs in just 19 overs.
In response, Afghanistan’s chase was anchored by a valiant and gritty 67-run innings from their captain, Ibrahim Zadran. Despite his heroic efforts, the Afghan middle order crumbled under the pressure of Sri Lanka’s disciplined and well-executed bowling attack, particularly during the crucial death overs. Matheesha Pathirana delivered an absolute masterclass in yorker bowling, securing crucial wickets in the final stages of the innings.
Ultimately, Sri Lanka defended the target successfully, winning the match by a narrow and thrilling margin of 4 runs. For his exceptional match-winning spell with the ball, Matheesha Pathirana was deservedly named the Player of the Match. This vital victory gave Sri Lanka a crucial 1-0 lead in the series, setting the tone for the remainder of the tour.
Detailed Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard (1st Innings)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Gurbaz b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | c Azmatullah b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | c Noor Ahmad b Naveen-ul-Haq | 24 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 141.18 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | run out (Ibrahim Zadran) | 25 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 104.17 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Gurbaz b Noor Ahmad | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (c) | c Ibrahim Zadran b Naveen-ul-Haq | 67 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 209.38 |
| Angelo Mathews | lbw b Karim Janat | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Gulbadin b Azmatullah | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | c Nabi b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Binura Fernando | b Azmatullah | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | not out | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Extras | 6 | |||||
| Total | 160/10 | 19.0 |
Sri Lanka Bowling Figures (2nd Innings)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelo Mathews | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Binura Fernando | 4 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 7.80 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 4 | 0 | 24 | 4 | 6.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 2 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 8.50 |
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard (2nd Innings)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibrahim Zadran (c) | not out | 67 | 55 | 8 | 0 | 121.82 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | c Pathirana b Mathews | 13 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 216.67 |
| Gulbadin Naib | b W Hasaranga | 16 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 94.12 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | c Shanaka b Pathirana | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi | c W Hasaranga b Shanaka | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Najibullah Zadran | c Dhananjaya de Silva b Shanaka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Karim Janat | lbw b Pathirana | 20 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Qais Ahmad | c Kamindu Mendis b Theekshana | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 175.00 |
| Noor Ahmad | b Pathirana | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | b Pathirana | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 12 | |||||
| Total | 156/9 | 20.0 |
Afghanistan Bowling Figures (1st Innings)
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 6.20 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 3 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 8.30 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Noor Ahmad | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Qais Ahmad | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Karim Janat | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 7.70 |
Key Highlights from the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team match scorecard tells the story of a classic T20I battle, characterized by explosive batting, strategic bowling changes, and high-pressure moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball.
Top Batting Performance
The standout batting performance of the innings undoubtedly belonged to Sri Lanka’s dynamic captain, Wanindu Hasaranga. Walking in to bat at a precarious 55/4 in the 8th over, Hasaranga played a true captain’s knock that shifted the momentum entirely in Sri Lanka’s favor. He smashed a brilliant 67 runs off just 32 deliveries, striking at an astonishing rate of 209.38.
His innings included 7 boundaries and 3 massive sixes, effectively dismantling the Afghan spin attack and ensuring Sri Lanka crossed the psychologically important 160-run mark. For Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran was the lone warrior with the bat. His unbeaten 67 off 55 balls kept the chasing team in the contest, but he lacked consistent support from the other end as wickets fell in frustrating clusters.
Top Bowling Performance
With the ball in hand, Matheesha Pathirana was the undisputed hero for Sri Lanka. The young pace sensation executed his death-bowling plans to absolute perfection, finishing with remarkable figures of 4 wickets for 24 runs in his allotted 4 overs. His ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers under extreme pressure proved to be the ultimate difference between victory and defeat.
He dismissed key batters like Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, and Naveen-ul-Haq, effectively shutting the door on Afghanistan’s chasing hopes. For Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 25 runs, which included the crucial early dismissals of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis.
Turning Point of the Match
The definitive turning point of this cricket match occurred during the 18th over of the Afghan innings. Chasing 161, Afghanistan was still very much in the game with Ibrahim Zadran holding the fort at the crease. However, Pathirana produced a devastating over of fast bowling, removing Karim Janat, Noor Ahmad, and Naveen-ul-Haq in rapid succession. This rapid collapse of three wickets for just a handful of runs completely derailed Afghanistan’s chase, leaving them requiring an impossible 14 runs off the final over.
Records and Milestones
This victory marked a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it helped them build the momentum needed to eventually secure a 2-1 series win in the three-match T20I contest. Furthermore, Wanindu Hasaranga’s explosive strike rate reinforced his growing reputation as one of the most dangerous and reliable finishers in world cricket. The match also highlighted the growing competitiveness and resilience of Afghanistan in white-ball cricket, as they continue to push top-tier teams to the absolute brink in modern cricket.
Head-to-Head Record (T20 Internationals)
| Format | Matches | Sri Lanka Wins | Afghanistan Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the match?
A: Sri Lanka won the match by a narrow margin of 4 runs against Afghanistan in the 1st T20I.
Q: Who was Player of the Match?
A: Matheesha Pathirana was awarded the Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling figures of 4/24, which dismantled the Afghan batting lineup in the death overs.
Q: What was the match result?
A: The final match result was Sri Lanka scoring 160/10 (19 overs) and defeating Afghanistan, who scored 156/9 (20 overs), by 4 runs.
Q: When and where was the match played?
A: The match was played on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
Q: What is the current series score?
A: Following this match, Sri Lanka carried the momentum forward and won the 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan with a final series score of 2-1.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team match scorecard from February 2024 remains a memorable fixture for cricket fans worldwide. It showcased the perfect blend of explosive middle-order batting and clinical death bowling. Sri Lanka’s ability to recover from early setbacks and defend a modest total highlighted their squad depth and tactical maturity.
Following this thrilling 1st T20I victory, Sri Lanka carried the momentum forward to clinch the three-match series 2-1, proving their dominance in home conditions. Fans can undoubtedly look forward to more high-octane encounters between these two competitive nations in upcoming ICC tournaments and bilateral series.
