Dilshan scoops Sri Lanka past Afghans

The match in a tweet: Afghanistan fightback gives the defending champs a scare but Tillakaratne Dilshan guides Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory

The hero: Tillikaratne Dilshan turned up for the World Twenty20 with the dyed red hair and carefully manicured zebra crossing goatee. And when he unveiled the famous Dilscoop to launch a six back over the wicketkeeper's head in the third over, things looked like they were going to get funky for Afghanistan. Chasing 154 Dilshan was able to reign things in and play his natural game, eviscerating the field with some lacing shots, and helped no end by some decidedly sub-standard fielding even when he picked out the man. It was close enough for Afghanistan to remain in the hunt but with Dilshan in command Sri Lanka were able to make a tricky encounter comfortable.

The cult hero: Mohammad Shahzad wasn't able to add much with the bat in this match but he continued to make cricket fans fall in love with him with his antics behind the stumps. He showed the passion he feels for the game when giving Lahiru Thirimanne a send-off … and his recovery from a fumble to turn and throw down the stumps with an agility and athleticism that belied his generous frame was an instant classic.

The support cast: Regana Herath sent an early shot across the bow of opposing batsmen with a display of guile that we've come to expect from the veteran spinner. Make no mistake, he will be as big a handful as anyone during this tournament. He finished with 2-24 but was a little unlucky to see a chance dropped and parried over the rope for six that would have cut short Asghar Stanikzai's fightback before it had really kicked into gear.

The talking point: Lasith Malinga was never likely to be risked for this game, given his fitness concerns. However, the site of him pulling up lame midway through a run-up in the warm-ups ahead of this match must be of some concern for Sri Lanka. The island nation's most potent Twenty20 bowler with 78 wickets from 62 matches, his yorkers are seen as crucial to their hopes in Group 1.

The consolation effort: Ahead of this match Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai declared: "We have not qualified for the Super 10s just to participate. We are ready to challenge some big teams." The skipper was true to his words, with a fighting and determined half-century. It was the kind of gutsy captain's knock that had Steve Waugh declaring Afghanistan his co-favourite team in this tournament. Watchful to begin with, his team was soon languishing at 4-51 after 11 overs. Suddenly Stanikzai had seen enough and pressed the accelerator. Two consecutive sixes were dispatched over the rope and the tone of the innings totally changed. He had more than his share of luck – dropped over the rope slogging Herath, and inexplicably put down by opposing captain, he cashed in to score 62.

The wash-up: Sri Lanka will be feeling relieved to have escaped this but know they must play much better if they are to have any reasonable chance of defending their crown. The return of Malinga will aid their bowling but sterner tests await. For Afghanistan, they certainly proved they are not here to simply make up the numbers in the Super 10 stage but may lament this one that might have slipped from their grasp. The gap between Associate and Full Member nations was perhaps best exhibited in the easy boundaries Afghanistan's outfielders gifted with basic errors that proved costly.

The next stop: Both teams are in action again on Sunday as Group 1 action hots up. Afghanistan will be out to prove themselves worthy of playing alongside the top teams when they meet South Africa in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will meet Chris Gayle and the West Indies in Bangalore in their next match, in the early hours of Monday morning (AEDT).