INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kusal Mendis& sparkling century was not enough to earn Sri Lanka victory as a Rahmanullah Gurbaz-inspired Afghanistan won a rain-affected
clash in Guwahati.Batting first, Mendis arrived at the crease following the early departure of Dimuth Karunaratne and was quickly into his
stride, AFP reported.The 18th over was particularly punishing, Mendis taking 18 from it including three consecutive boundaries, and he
quickly moved to a 59-ball century.With his score on 158, including 19 fours and six sixes, Mendis retired at the end of the 30th over and
Afghanistan fought back with the ball thereafter, Mohammad Nabi claiming four for 44 & including two in two balls in the 39th over & as Sri
Lanka were bowled out for 294 with 22 balls unused.Kasun Rajitha claimed the scalp of Ibrahim Zadran amid a miserly opening spell which saw
his five overs cost just two runs, but Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah proved much tougher to dislodge.The pair&s century stand came
either side of a rain delay, after which the target was adjusted to 257 from 42 overs, and kicked on in style as the target loomed into
view.Rahmanullah was first to three figures, hitting three sixes in the 31st over before clearing the ropes three times in succession in the
next, which also saw him bring up his century.He and Rahmat both retired shortly after, as Azmatullah Omarzai hit the winning runs with 23
balls to spare.Sri Lanka v Afghanistan at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati & Afghanistan won by six wickets (DLS method)Brief Scores:Sri
Lanka 294 in 46.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 158, Pathum Nissanka 30; Mohammad Nabi 4/44, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1/25)Afghanistan 261/4 in 38.1 overs
(Rahmanullah Gurbaz 119, Rahmat Shah 93; Kasun Rajitha 1/18, Lahiru Kumara 1/58)Result: Afghanistan won by six wickets (DLS method)The post
Gurbaz smashes century as Afghanistan win World Cup warm-up against Sri Lanka first appeared on Ariana News.
