11:55 pm: Thank you all for following our coverage. Join us again on June 5 when India take on South Africa to kick off their World Cup campaign.
11:54 pm:
SL skipper Karunaratne: We had a good start after a long time but suddenly, we lost a couple of wickets and were on the back foot. That’s the negative part but otherwise, the bowling and fielding was really good. After losing the first game, it’s not easy to keep your mind in positive way. We have experience in these conditions and that helped. Only thing we need to work on is to improve our batting in the middle overs.
11:53 pm:
Naib on where things went wrong: Start of the day, we didn’t bowl in good areas and lost momentum from there. They got to 100 in no time. At one point, I thought they would get to 300 but Nabi bowled really well. Wicket wasn’t easy for the batters, so I was telling the bowlers to hit the right spots, hit the deck. In the middle overs, Dawlat and Hamid found their lines. Credit goes to them and the other bowlers.
AFG 145 all out (32.4) - Mujeeb 1
WICKET! Malinga finishes things off with another brilliant yorker. It was a match that was all about mistakes but SL finally have a win in an ODI against a full member nation. SL win by 34 runs (D/L).
Hamid b Malinga 6 (5, 6x1)
AFG 145/9 (32) - Hassan 0
WICKET! Last ball of the over, Najibullah was looking for the quick single. He hit the ball to Karunaratne at mid-off and took off. But the Sri Lankan skipper was alert to the chance and hit the stumps directly. The batsman was well short.
Najibullah run out (Karunaratne) 43 (56, 4x6)
AFG 136/8 (30.4) - Najibullah 35
WICKET! Finally, Malinga strikes again. Lovely yorker, and Dawalt had not chance. Just a couple of wickets more.
Dawlat Zadran b Malinga 6(18) [4s-1]
AFG 135/7 (30) - Najibullah 35, Zadran 5
Najib’s stubborn resistance continues. Afghanistan need 52 runs in 66 balls. Every dot ball adds to the pressure. This is getting close now.
AFG 123/7 (26.1) - Najibullah 29
WICKET! Pradeep strikes again. Lovely delivery this. The dangerous Rashid Khan is walking back. He attempted to whip the ball away but the ball hit the pads and then the top of off. And that in all likelihood has sealed the deal.
Rashid Khan b Pradeep 2(4)
AFG 121/6 (24.5) - Najibullah 29
WICKET! At long last, the stand is broken. Pradeep’s full delivery traps the batsman in front. Naib went for the review straightaway and the replays showed it would have clipped the leg-stump.
Naib lbw b Pradeep 23 (32, 4x2)
AFG 114/5 (24) - Gulbadin 22, Najibullah 28
This has been a stunning partnership for Afghanistan – 57(62). Sri Lanka will be getting desperate now.
AFG 105/5 (22) - Gulbadin 20, Najibullah 23
Afghanistan need 82 from 114 balls. Both batsmen are looking pretty comfortable in the middle and Sri Lanka have no answers at the moment.
AFG 99/5 (21) - Gulbadin 14, Najibullah 23
Afghanistan are continuing to chip away. The runs aren’t coming particularly fast but they keep piling on. Sri Lanka have lost the plot a little.
AFG 94/5 (20) - Gulbadin 12, Najibullah 20
Afghanistan need 91 runs and Sri Lanka seem to have come up against a wall. This stand has already put on 39(38) and this will worry Karunaratne.
AFG 82/5 (18) - Gulbadin 2, Najibullah 19
Poor bowling by T Perera, who continues to bowl short balls. There is something when the ball is pitched up but SL are confused.
AFG 76/5 (17) - Gulbadin 1, Najibullah 17
Ball is still moving around and there is good bounce as well. Things are not going to get any easier for the batsmen any time soon. Sri Lanka also have enough medium pacers to fall back on.
AFG 73/5 (16) - Gulbadin 0, Najibullah 16
Najib continues to chance his arm, it doesn’t look like he wants to hang around and do nothing for too long. Still, a quick cameo could change things around too.
AFG 65/5 (15) - Gulbadin 0, Najibullah 8
The match is all but lost at this point. Afghanistan need a miracle to even make it close to the target from here.
AFG 57/5 (13.4) - Gulbadin Naib 0
WICKET! T Perera strikes now. He got one to come back into Nabi, hit the pads and then onto the stumps. Big, big wicket this. Afghanistan are reeling.
Nabi b Perera 11 (16, 4x1)
AFG 57/4 (12.5) - Nabi 11
Pradeep strikes again. Good line and length, scrambled seam and it took off. Hashmatullah tried to play at it but it got too big, took the edge and through to the keeper. Afghanistan in big trouble here.
Hashmatullah c Kusal Perera b Pradeep 4(17)
AFG 57/3 (12) - Hashmatullah 4, Nabi 11
SL are now starting to bring the run-rate under control but Nabi’s experience is key here.
AFG 51/3 (11) - Hashmatullah 3, Nabi 6
Nabi has been the game breaker with the ball. Now, can he come to the party with the bat as well. Afghanistan cannot afford to lose more wickets but they need to keep the runs coming as well.
AFG 44/3 (8.3) - Hashmatullah 2
WICKET! Lovely bouncer by Pradeep but T Perera took a brilliant low catch in the deep to send back the dangerman. SL finally getting it right – the wickets are the key here.
Hazratullah Zazai c Perera b Pradeep 30 (25, 4x3, 6x1)
AFG 42/2 (7.5) - Hazratullah 29
Nice bowling by Udana. It was slightly wide but up there. Rahmat shaped up for the drive, got the edge through to the first slip.
Rahmat c Mathews b Udana 2 (11)
AFG 41/1 (7) - Hazratullah 29, Rahmat 2
Malinga with another good over but Sri Lanka need wickets. That is the only way they are going to win today. Hazratullah is the danger man.
AFG 37/1 (6) - Hazratullah 27, Rahmat 1
Udana into the attack and he bowls a pretty decent over. Lakmal just couldn’t keep it together. Sri Lanka will be looking to get some control over the proceedings as well at this point.
AFG 34/1 (4.4) - Hazratullah 25
WICKET! Finally, Sri Lanka have a breakthrough but not before dropping a catch earlier in the same over. The slower ball did the trick, Shahzad is early into the flick and chips it tamely towards short mid-wicket. Sri Lanka needed this. They need a lot more of this.
Mohammad Shahzad c Karunaratne b Malinga 7 (12, 4x1)
AFG 22/0 (3) - Shahzad 7, Hazratullah 15
Hazratullah seems to have decided that he can’t just survive on this wicket. He is throwing his bat at everything and so far, it has come off for him. The Afghans are off to a flier. Poor bowling by Malinga though. After a good first over, this time, he hardly used the pitch or the conditions.
AFG 17/0 (2) - Shahzad 7, Hazratullah 10
Lakmal got the first ball to swing but then was too short on the second ball which was launched by Hazratullah into the stands. Shahzad hit another four off the fifth ball of the over. But once again, too short from Lakmal.
AFG 6/0 (1) - Shahzad 3, Hazratullah 3
Superb over by Malinga. He got the first ball to swing away from Shahzad and then maintained the shape for the rest of the over. Some lovely bouncers too. The Afghan batsmen didn’t know much about what was happening.
AFG 0/0 (0)
The Afghan innings is all set to believe. A good start will go a long way for them.
Sri Lanka 201 all out in 36.5 overs
Rashid Khan finishes things off. What a comeback by Afghanistan! They looked down and out in the match after that wonderful start by Sri Lanka but they never gave up. Nabi’s wickets got them back and then SL collapsed. The Islanders haven’t even played their full quota of overs. Target, due to the rain-shortened game, will be 187.
Pradeep b Rashid Khan 0(4)
Sri Lanka 199/9 (36) - Lakmal 14
Lovely back-of-the-hand slower ball does Malinga in. It looped in and was at a yorker length. Malinga had no answer.
Malinga b Dawlat Zadran 4 (14, 4x1)
Sri Lanka 199/8 (35.5) - Lakmal 14, Malinga 4
It is just a 41-over game and Sri Lanka will want to make sure they bat out those over. Lakmal can bat a bit and he has shown that by hitting two fours of Dawlat.
Sri Lanka 189/8 in 34 overs
Malinga goes over the top and gets a boundary. Ideal start for the Lankans. Seven from the first over after play resumed.
8:30 pm: Play has resumed on schedule
8:25 pm: There is a drizzle in Cardiff and the covers are back on. The players are heading back to the dressing room. The agonising wait continues for all of us.
UPDATE: 8:05 pm: The match will resume at 8:30 pm IST. It will be a 41-over contest with a 10-minute innings break. That is settled then.
7:56 pm: The covers have come off and there will be a pitch inspection shortly. The rain has stopped and it looks like we will lose some overs.
7:48 pm: The covers are coming off at Cardiff.
7:40 pm: The rain has reportedly stopped in Cardiff. The groundsmen are draining the water out. No update on how many overs we have lost so far yet.
6:23 pm: We have something for the Indian fans. What do you think their playing XI should be for tomorrow’s game against South Africa? Take our poll here.
6:20 pm: The rain delay looks set to continue for another 45 minutes. We will start to lose overs after the half-hour mark.
6:00 pm: It’s still raining in Cardiff. Meanwhile, here’s Vinayakk’s preview of India ahead of their tournament opener. Virat Kohli’s men play South Africa.
Rain has stopped play. Sri Lanka are 182/8 in 33 overs. Meanwhile, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka are facing off in the French Open quarter-finals.
SL 180/8 (32)
WICKET! There goes the big one. Rashid Khan strikes and Kusal Perera goes. Sri Lanka are eight-down. The opener gets a nick while trying to go for a reverse sweep. The collapse continues.
K Perera c Shahzad b Rashid Khan 78 (81)
SL 177/7 (31.3) - K Perera 77
WICKET! This is ridiculous. Sri Lanka showing why they have been one of worst sides in international cricket. Udana going for a big, ugly hoick... connecting with only air. Just what was he thinking? Just what is this Sri Lankan side thinking? Is no one in the dressing room talking sense?
Udana b Dawlat Zadran 10 (21, 6x1)
SL 177/6 (31) - K Perera 77, Udana 10
Sri Lanka have to realise there is still a lot to play for. If they can get to 240-250, they will have a very good chance. It looks like it is starting to drizzle a little – a few umbrellas are open.
Between the 21-30 overs, Sri Lanka only managed 38-5.
SL 175/6 (29) - K Perera 76, Udana 9
The advantage of the good start has been wasted. But Perera is still there in the middle and he needs to find a way of taking this SL innings deep. They have to play out the 50 overs.
SL 173/6 (28) - K Perera 76, Udana 8
The best thing Afghanistan have done is keep Perera away from the strike. Udana launched one beyond the ropes in the last over but should be his approach?
SL 166/6 (27) - K Perera 75, Udana 1
Someone needs to stay with Perera in the middle. The pitch is providing assistance for the pacers but someone needs to stay there. SL are collapsing but a total of even just 250 might given them a very good chance.
SL 159/6 (25.4) - K Perera 74
Oh my god! T Perera went for a nonexistent single and was run out. Why was he even trying for a quick single is something only he knows. On the other end, K Perera is in his seventies. This is some collapse.
Perera run out (Shahidi/Mohammad Shahzad) 2(4)
SL 155/5 (25) - K Perera 72, T Perera 2
It’s like the wheels have suddenly come off for Sri Lanka. Another over and another mix-up in the middle. It almost resulted in a run out but somehow SL survive.
SL 152/5 (24) - K Perera 70, T Perera 1
Wow. How does SL recover from here? K Perera needs to keep doing what he has been doing and T Perera needs to just stay there in the middle with him.
SL 149/5 (23) - K Perera 65
Hassan strikes now! In 11 balls, Sri Lanka have lost 4 wickets for just 5 runs. Nothing really has changed but Sri Lanka have just collapsed. de Silva edged that through to the keeper.
Last 11 balls: W 2 W . W 2 1 . . . W
Dhananjaya de Silva c Mohammad Shahzad b Hamid 0(4)
SL 146/4 (22) - K Perera 65
Three wickets in an over! Nabi you genius! What is happening here. The ball isn’t turning or doing anything crazy. This is all Sri Lanka. Angelo Mathews edged that, it hit the keepers pads and popped up to first slip. Wow. This match has flipped and how!
Mathews c Rahmat b Nabi 0(2)
SL 146/3 (21.4) - K Perera 65
It is that man Nabi again. Kusal Mendis had a very short stay in the middle. Was almost dismissed off the first ball he faced, edging it just past the slips and then repeated the mistake. Wonderful bowling by Nabi. Pure class.
Kusal Mendis c Rahmat b Nabi 2(2)
SL 144/2 (21.2) - K Perera 65
Nabi gets the wicket again. He looped it up to the batsmen, no pace and Thirimanne got the inside edge back onto the stumps. Nabi’s spell has been superb especially if one takes into account the match situation – 4.2-0-13-2.
Thirimanne b Nabi 25(34, 4x1)
SL 139/1 (20) - K Perera 63, Thirimanne 22
Once again, a good over from Rashid but if Sri Lanka are smart about this, they just need to play out his overs. That is what teams in the IPL did and even though his ER was good, his wicket count stayed low.
SL 136/1 (19) - K Perera 63, Thirimanne 19
Decent over from Hassan, who is back in the attack. The ball is doing something from the good length but Afghanistan just haven’t hit that length often enough.
SL 131/1 (18) - K Perera 61, Thirimanne 16
Steady over by Rashid but the problem for Afghanistan is that Sri Lanka don’t need to take any risks against him. They can just play out his overs.
SL 128/1 (17) - K Perera 60, Thirimanne 14
0 0 2 1Nb Wd Wd 4 2 2Nb 4
Fifty for Perera off 42 balls but a really poor over by the Afghan skipper. No balls, free hits, fours – it had everything but good balls. 19 runs off the over.
SL 109/1 (16) - K Perera 48, Thirimanne 11
Time for a drinks break. Sri Lanka will be particularly happy with their start, Afghanistan not so much. But Rashid Khan has just been introduced into the attack and if the Afghans have a game changer in their ranks, it is this man.
SL 104/1 (15) - K Perera 47, Thirimanne 7
Sri Lanka are in control and a few wickets can change things very quickly. Perera is key from this point on – needs to carry on, SL need someone to carry on.
SL 92/1 (13.1) - K Perera 43
WICKET! Nabi gets Afghanistan the breakthrough. A nothing shot to long-on. Almost looked like he was trying to chip it but it went straight to the fielder. A good innings but Sri Lanka would have loved him to carry on.
Karunaratne c Najibullah b Nabi 30(45, 4x3)
SL 86/0 (12) - Karunaratne 26, K Perera 41
Another good over for Afghanistan. Just three off it as Nabi bowled a good line and length. Despite the overcast conditions, the pitch seems to be pretty good for batting.
SL 83/0 (11) - Karunaratne 25, K Perera 39
Gulbadin Naib into the attack and just four runs from the over. After the initial flurry, things have settled down a bit. But Sri Lanka will want Perera to keep going. There was a forecast for rain and SL will want to make sure that their run-rate remains very good.
SL 79/0 (10) - Karunaratne 23, K Perera 37
This is only the second time in the last 10 ODIs that SL haven’t lost a wicket in the Powerplay. This is huge for them but puts Afghanistan in a spot of bother. For now, SL are bossing it.
SL 76/0 (9) - Karunaratne 21, K Perera 36
Sri Lankans are keeping it real. In between all the fours, there is some hard running there too. Very intelligent cricket - the longer the opening pair goes on, the more the pressure on the Afghans.
SL 71/0 (8) - Karunaratne 17, K Perera 35
Perera continues along his merry way. Back-to-back fours against Mujeed ensuring that the run-rate doesn’t drop. This might force Afghanistan to get Rashid Khan into the attack early.
SL 62/0 (7) - Karunaratne 17, K Perera 27
Nabi gives Afghanistan some much-needed control – just three runs off the over. We have spin from both ends now.
SL 59/0 (6) - Karunaratne 16, K Perera 26
This start keeps getting better. Afghanistan have bowled badly but Sri Lanka have taken advantage of anything loose. Mujeed is into the attack now and it will be interesting to see whether the Lankan batsmen change their approach against the spinners.
SL 52/0 (5) - Karunaratne 11, K Perera 24
What a start this is! T20-level start. Afghanistan haven’t helped their cause – they have conceded 17 extras in the first 5 overs.
SL 37/0 (4) - Karunaratne 11, K Perera 19
Sri Lanka are off to a flying start thanks to Perera who has taken the attack to Hassan in particular. The medium pacer has been smashed for 30 in his two overs.
SL 21/0 (3) - Karunaratne 6, K Perera 13
The two opening Afghan bowlers have 63 years between them. A lot of years to fall back on and they need to do better here. In overcast conditions, the Afghans would expect them to deliver at least a wicket or two.
SL 20/0 (2) - Karunaratne 6, K Perera 12
Brilliant over for Lanka. Perera taking the attack to the Afghans and making them pay. The 15-run over is a boost to start the innings.
SL 5/0 (1) - Karunaratne 4, K Perera 0
Dawlat with the new ball for Afghanistan and he got good movement. Not extravagant but enough to keep the batsman on their toes. One poor delivery down the leg-side gave the SL skipper four runs.
2.56 pm: National anthems done. In cloudy conditions, Afghanistan have the new ball. Can Sri Lanka put up a good total on the board?
2.45 pm: Sri Lanka have a 2-1 lead in ODIs against Afghanistan. The solitary loss came last year, when they lost a game to Afghanistan by 91 runs and were knocked out of the Asia Cup.
2.41 pm: Veteran paceman Lasith Malinga said on Monday that Sri Lanka must be mentally tough against Afghanistan as they seek to get their World Cup campaign up and running. The 1996 world champions were thumped by 10 wickets in their opening match against New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday.
Sri Lanka were routed for a paltry 136, giving their bowlers little chance, and New Zealand’s opening pair of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro coasted to their target in the 17th over.
Malinga, who is playing in his fourth World Cup, said Sri Lanka had talent in their ranks but were short of experience in the conditions they were facing in England and Wales.
“Bowlers have a big role to play in tomorrow’s game (also in Cardiff). We never know what’s going on, who is bowling first or second,” he said.
“But still, bowlers can change the game. I still believe that. Then I feel players need to get confidence, but we can improve our skills at the moment.
“We need to get mentally tough. And all the pressure is with us, yes, but we have to play with a free mind and do our best in tomorrow’s game.”
2.37 pm:
Dimuth Karunaratne: “In the last game also we batted first. The batsmen have an idea of how to bat here. It is not a 300 wicket. It’s (captaincy) not easy, it’s a good challenge. They give me support. Jeevan Mendis is not playing. Pradeep is playing.”
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Perera(w), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga
2.36 pm:
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Shahzad(w), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib(c), Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan
2.33 pm: AFGHANISTAN HAVE WON THE TOSS AND THEY WILL BOWL FIRST.
2.32 pm: Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib’s team were given a harsh lesson by holders Australia, who cruised to a seven-wicket win in the opening game for both teams in Bristol on Saturday.
But Naib believes his team have a better chance of success against Sri Lanka, whom they beat by 91 runs in last year’s Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates, if the contest is reduced from the scheduled 50 overs-per-side due to the weather.
Asked on Monday if he was worried about rain derailing Afghanistan’s hopes, a relaxed Naib told reporters: “It was also predicted for today, but it didn’t rain so much.
“Tomorrow we just see what’s the weather. I think maybe the weather will be the same. So if we can reduce the overs it will be much better for us.”
Despite the defeat against Australia, Naib says Afghanistan were encouraged by parts of their performance and he hopes to build on that in the Sri Lanka match.
“We’ve got to be positive. If you look, we missed out on 12 overs in the previous game, yet we scored 200-plus,” Naib said.
“If you have wickets in hand, so maybe the score is 300-plus something.”
2.20 pm: Forecasts predict persistent rain in Cardiff, which could play havoc with Afghanistan’s bid to get their first win in this year’s tournament.