Image source, AFP

It was a curious stroke from Ahmadi, who had played himself in nicely, he appeared to get a leading edge attempting to flick to leg and it looped tamely to mid-wicket where Herath took a neat catch.

Timely wicket too because it took the cameras away from a character in the crowd dressed in a double-breasted red suit with brass buttons and a matching red beret. What he is doing I have no idea, apart from some dubious dancing, but he seems to like the cameras.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Mangal hit it like he was giving fielding practice to your eight-year-old daughter. Much relief for Sri Lanka and their captain Mathews but heartache for Mangal. A stand of 34 is not a bad opening partnership by the standards of some matches at this World Cup but that's a wasted opportunity for Afghanistan."

The breakthrough arrives and a gentle loosener from skipper Mathews provides it. Perhaps Mangal was deceived by the slow pace but he drives it straight to short extra cover as if giving catching practice. How will the minnows react to the loss of their first wicket?

Image source, Allsport

Ahmadi aged just 23 looks a cool customer and plays an exemplary off drive to the pickets with a classically high MCC elbow. Four more from the final ball with a flick off the pads. Where are these helpful bowling conditions then?

Image source, Getty Images

Afghanistan coach Andy Moles may have 'the most dangerous job in sport' but he is determined that it is not going to be the most demoralising. Like Frank Sinatra, he's got high hopes. Here is what he had to say after their opening-game defeat by Bangladesh...

"We genuinely thought we could win the game but just didn't get out of the blocks with the bat," said the former Warwickshire opener. "We were in a fog and before we knew it we were one, two, three down and treading water.

"We do well with bat and ball for 35 overs and it's that extra 15 overs where we need to work on our concentration levels, our discipline and our execution."

The Sri Lanka opening bowlers conceded 162 runs from 18 overs in the opening defeat against New Zealand last weekend and Malinga concedes his third boundary of this innings when Mangal bisects the cover fielders perfectly.

Gilad Lipschitz:, external Brendon McCullum's record-breaking 50 against England. His innings has to be the best at this World Cup.

Mangal is dropped on four by Mahela Jayawardene, diving to his right at second slip off Lakmal. Playing his 443rd ODI the old boy, a sprightly 37, but he does not add to his 217 catches this time. Sharp chance but we're used to seeing him snaffle those.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, AP

"Lasith Malinga is a more dangerous bowler at the end of the innings than at the start. I wouldn't use him for very long with the new ball. He's much better with the old ball when batsmen are going after him."

Ahmadi is away with successive boundaries off Malinga, the first off the edge wide of the slips but the second a fluent square drive. He then keeps out a beautiful slower ball yorker as well that has cleaned many a batsman up over the years. Hint of swing towards the end of the over but nothing of the Tim Southee range.

He's trying to get those 13 quickly by the looks of things. All manner of attacking intent but he calms down with a beautifully straight drive off Lakmal for two runs through mid-on.

Nawroz Mangal needed 13 runs at the start of play to become the third player to score 1,000 ODI runs for Afghanistan.

The temporary stands are fairly sparsely populated at the moment but there is a smattering of Sri Lanka followers who appear to be in good spirits. Malinga, who has 271 ODI wickets from his 179 matches, is still getting into his stride. Mangal pinches a single from the final delivery.

Thomas DJH Stirk:, external Ireland's run chase is the standout moment so far. The way they went about chasing 300 was superb.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wkt), Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.

Afghanistan: Afsar Zazai, Javed Ahmadi, Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi (capt), Dawlat Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Shapoor Zadran, Hamid Hassan.

Three slips in place for rangy seamer Lakmal. It's overcast but no dramatic swing as yet. Mangal gets off the mark with a thick edge to third man for a single. Not sure if Mrs Mangal is here. (one for the older Neighbours fans)

Image source, Reuters

You may think that Malinga would have ripped through the Afghans in that one previous meeting. He didn't. He took 0-23 from five overs. He opens with a maiden. Better than the opening match against the Kiwis when he went for 84 from his 10 and there was not surprisingly no maidens.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"All we need in this tournament is a close game. We haven't really had one yet. I like the fact that the bowlers have a chance if they use the new ball well but also if you have wickets in hand it then becomes a batsman's game."

The Afghan openers are out there in their salmon pink helmets. Both teams in mid-blue kit and the mercurial Lasith Malinga has the ball. Umpires Chris Gaffaney from New Zealand, no relation to Dean, and former England spinner Richard Illingworth, no relation to Raymond. Let's play.

Image source, Getty Images

There is a humility about the way Afghanistan are approaching their task at the World Cup. They are clearly not naive to their standing in the world cricket order. However, it is also clear they are aiming to imprint a little bit of themselves on the tournament.

"We'll be trying to do our best against all full member nations to play positive cricket and have a good fight," said Afghanistan pace bowler Mirwais Ashraf. Everyone loves an underdog, especially when they bite. Could Sri Lanka be in for a shock?