Defending champions Sri Lanka on Thursday started their ICC World Twenty20 campaign by beating Afghanistan at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. Sri Lanka won by six wickets, with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan scoring a 56-ball 83 that helped them chase down Afghanistan’s 153/7 with seven balls to spare.

Sri Lanka got off to a good start, but their run rate slowed down in the middle overs as they lost of a couple of wickets. They were eventually left with a target of 41 off 29 balls, before skipper Angelo Mathews guided them safely home, scoring 21 off 10 balls.

Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat. Captain Asghar Stanikzai scored a brisk 62 off 47 balls to take them to a fighting total after an early slump to 51/4. Samiullah Shenwari chipped in with 31 off 14 balls, but in the end it wasn't quite enough.