Mahela Jayawardene hit his 19th one-day international century to help Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by four wickets and avoid a major World Cup upset.
Tournament debutants Afghanistan sensed a shock after reducing Sri Lanka to 2-2 and then 18-3 in Pool A in Dunedin.
But Jayawardene (100) put on 126 with captain Angelo Mathews (44) and although both departed, Sri Lanka held on to win with 10 balls left.
Asghar Stanikzai with 54 was the top scorer in Afghanistan's 232 all out.
The win was Sri Lanka's first of the tournament following their heavy defeat by New Zealand in the opening match, while Afghanistan remain without a point but above on run rate.
"We really need to raise our standards to compete against the top teams," said Mathews, whose side face Bangladesh on Thursday, with further group fixtures to come against Australia, England and Scotland.
Post match video courtesy ICC
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to vacate his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo this morning, a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) source said.
Sri Lanka’s largest renewable energy project, the ‘Rvidanavi’ Solar Power Park project was launched in Siyambalanduwa today by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed by a majority of 150 in parliament today. However the opposition MP’s were absent during the voting.
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