Asghar Stanikzai scored a half century but Afghanistan wasted a golden opportunity to post a big total against Sri Lanka before they were dismissed for 232 in 49.4 overs in their World Cup Pool A match in Dunedin on Sunday.

Afghanistan, who were beaten by 105 runs in their World Cup debut against Bangladesh on Wednesday, looked more assured on Sunday after they had been asked to bat by Angelo Mathews on a pitch that was offering some assistance to the bowlers.

Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal obliged with a tight line and length but Javed Ahmadi and Nawroz Mangal saw them off and looked well set at University Oval.

Mathews then brought himself into the attack and the slower pace paid immediate dividends, with Mangal hitting the ball straight to Lahiru Thirimanne at silly mid-off for 10 before Ahmadi was dismissed by Lakmal for 24.

Stanikzai then combined with Samiullah Shenwari (38) in an 88-run partnership and the pair appeared so comfortable they looked to have set a platform for their side to eventually push on towards a total approaching 300.

However, the wheels fell off when Stanikzai was caught in the deep by Jeevan Mendis for 54, from 57 balls, which appeared to slam the brakes on the batting side’s momentum.

Shenwari went shortly after for 38 and it was left to captain Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran to rebuild the innings.

Nabi (21) and Zadran (10), however, both fell in the batting power play bowled by Malinga and Lakmal, who turned the screw by conceding just 10 runs in the five overs.

Mirwais Ashraf, who top edged two sixes over the wicketkeeper in his 28 runs, and Afsar Zazai (19) managed to produce a 46-run partnership but had scored far too slowly to give them a competitive total.