(Cricket news) Sri Lanka dominates the opening day play in their one-off test against Afghanistan at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo on Friday. Viswa Fernando bagged a four-wicket haul, whereas  Prabath Jayasuriya and Asitha Fernando took 3-wickets each to budle out Afghanistan for 198. The trio’s efforts ensured that Sri Lanka’s most recent Test skipper, Dhananjaya de Silva’s decision to bowl first at the toss was validated.

Afghanistan had a setback in the very second ball of the game, as they lost Ibrahim Zadran for a duck. Noor and Rahmat tried to steady the ship with a 57-run partnership which was followed by a 52-run partnership between Rahmat and skipper Shahidi to take Afghanistan to 109 before their skipper was dismissed by Fernando.

Post Shahidi’s dismissal, there started a collapse from which Afghanistan did not manage to recover, except from a brief partnership between Rahmat and Ikram. Rahmat Shah was the only batter for the visitors to show a solid resistance as he played a wonderful innings of 91 from 139 balls. Qais Ahmad’s 21 runs down the order helped Afghanistan to 198.

Sri Lanka’s opening pair of Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka then pushed the advantage for the hosts further with a good unbroken stand, stitching up a 80-run partnership.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 198 (Rahmat Shah 91; Vishwa Fernando 4-51, Asitha Fernando 3-24) Sri Lanka 80/0 (Dimuth Karunaratne 42*, Nishant Madushka 36*) Sri Lanka trail by 118 runs.

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