Jayawardene steers Sri Lanka to safety

Sri Lanka have survived some nervous moments to hold off a spirited challenge from Afghanistan and close out a four-wicket win in their World Cup pool match in Dunedin.

A masterly century from Mahela Jayawardene had helped to rescue Sri Lanka from a horror start as they chased 233 at University Oval on Sunday.

Jayawardene's dismissal for 100 left his side at 6-178 and opened the door again for Afghanistan, but Thisara Perera closed it with some big hitting.

The all-rounder scored an unbeaten 47 off 26 balls as Sri Lanka reached 6-236 with 10 balls to spare.

Victory was important for the former champions after their 98-run defeat to New Zealand in the tournament opener last weekend.

But after allowing Afghanistan to post 232, they were 3-18 with both openers and top batsman Kumar Sangakkara back in the pavilion.

Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan each went for a first-ball duck to leave their side reeling at 2-2.

Sangakkara was bowled for seven by seamer Hamid Hassan, who cartwheeled in celebration.

When Hassan, playing his 26th ODI, had Dimuth Karunaratne caught in the slips for 23, he became the quickest among bowlers from an ICC associate nation to 50 wickets.

At 4-51, skipper Angelo Mathews joined Jayawardene in the middle.

The pair shared in a 126-run stand, before Mathews was run out from a Mohammad Nabi direct hit for 44.

Jayawardene had shown his customary calmness and class as he set about compiling his 19th ODI century.

But having reached three figures, the 37-year-old right-hander lobbed a Hassan delivery to third man.

The impressive Hassan ended with 3-45 from his nine overs.

Earlier, Afghanistan's batsmen took a positive approach after Sri Lanka won the toss.

But they were also guilty of some soft dismissals on the way to being bowled out in the final over.

Their innings was build on an 88-run third-wicket partnership between Asghar Stanikzai and Samiulla Shenwari.

Stanikzai hit six boundaries, including a six, but having to got to 54, he holed out in the deep.

Shenwari reached 38 before offering a catch to mid-off.

Afghanistan's momentum then stalled in the second batting power play.

During the five-over spell, they added just 10 runs, half of them extras, for the loss of skipper Nabi for 21 and Najibullah Zadran for 10, both going for the big hit.

Mathews and strike bowler Lasith Malinga both picked up a couple of late scalps to finish each with 3-41.