By the time Taskin Ahmed took a great catch at deep third man off the bowling of Rubel Hossain, Thirimanna had made a scratchy 52.
Thirimanna also should have been out on 22 when he edged Mortaza between the wicketkeeper and first slip. He also survived a stumping chance off Shabbir Rahman Roman when on 44.
Sangakkara likewise was on 23 when Taskin could not hold a tough caught-and-bowled chance.
But there was nothing difficult about the chance that Mominul Hoque Showrab dropped at point off Rubel's bowling when Sangakkara was 60.
A cover drive from Sangakkara early in his innings also went straight through Anamul for four.
Sri Lanka badly need a strong performance in this game after starting the cup with a loss to New Zealand and a narrow win over Afghanistan. They brought in Dinesh Chandimal for Jeevan Mendis, who is out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.
Afghanistan sealed a dramatic one-wicket win over Scotland yesterday in Dunedin.
Samiullah Shenwari singlehandedly lifted his side from the depths of depression to within kissing distance of victory. Coming to the crease with the score on 46 for 2, and watching the scoreboard slip to 97 for 7, Shenwari (96) did not leave until the 47th over, when one booming slogsweep too many floated down the throat of the long-on fielder. With 19 still needed, though, Scotland was back in the game.
Shapoor Zadran, the tall left-arm quick, batted with composure, and when he tucked the final ball of the penultimate over past the fine-leg fielder to the fence, Afghanistan needed five from the last over.
Iain Wardlaw, Scotland's spearhead, conceded a single off the first ball. Rapped on the pads off the second, Shapoor wandered nervously down the pitch and would have been well run out if Matt Machan's under-arm throw had hit the target. The third ball was a leg-stump full-toss, and Shapoor flicked it ever so elegantly to seal the deal.
After being set a modest target of 211 Afghanistan began strongly. Javed Ahmadi bossed over the bowling. Nawroze Mangal was more subdued, and did not receive as much of the strike, getting to 7 off 13 before a slightly lazy stroke was beaten by a ball from Alasdair Evans.
Afghanistan then lost five wickets for the addition of only nine runs.
Shenwari was left to plough a lone furrow as six batsmen either side of him departed for single-digit scores.
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