Reigning World T20 champions Sri Lanka coped with the absence of injured Lasith Malinga as Tillakaratne Dilshan inspired the side to a six-wicket win over qualifiers Afghanistan in Kolkata. Rangana Herath (2-24) took up the mantle with the ball after Malinga, afflicted by a knee strain in recent months, missed out on selection, with Afghanistan posting 153-7 thanks largely to captain Asghar Stanikzais career-best 62 off 47 balls.Dilshan (83no from 56) then collected his 13th fifty in T20I cricket - a record he shares with Chris Gayle (West Indies), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) and Virat Kohli (India) - and mowed three sixes as Sri Lanka eased home with seven balls to spare following the openers pull for four.Afghanistans innings hinged on Stanikzai after beefy opener Mohammad Shahzad, fresh from totals of 61, 41, and 40 in the qualification stage, holed out for eight and Mohammad Nabi, who hit 52 last time out against Zimbabwe, went lbw for three to leave the score on 51-4.Stanikzai clobbered back-to-back sixes off slow left-armer Milinda Siriwardana in the 13th over and four maximums in total, the 29-year-old sharing a stand of 61 from 31 balls with Samiullah Shenwari (31 from 14) for the fifth wicket while amassing his highest score in T20I cricket. Asghar Stanikzai hit four sixes in his career-best 62 Stanikzai perished attempting a ramp shot - becoming one of Thisara Pereras (3-33) scalps - but helped his side biff 104 runs from the final 10 overs, with Najibullah Zadran (12no from three) adding gloss at the death with a monstrous six over cover and a meaty four through the same region. Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal (18) , though, unleashed some lavish strokes of their own - the former nailing a six over fine leg with his famed Dil-scoop - as Sri Lanka put on 41 for the first wicket before Nabi had Chandimal pouched at midwicket from his second delivery.Sri Lanka teased a wobble when Lahiru Thirimanne (six) dragged teenage spinner Rashid Khan on, wicketkeeper Shahzad ran out Perera (12) and Nabi ousted Chamara Kapugedera (10) off his own bowling by flicking Dilshans straight drive onto the non-strikers wicket.But skipper Mathews backed up his economical work with the ball (1-17) by supporting Dilshan with an enterprising late cameo with the blade (21no from 10), although Afghanistan - in the Super 10s for the first time in their history - were left to rue some sloppy ground fielding during an otherwise valiant display. Sri Lanka celebrate the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews: It was a much-needed victory for us as we havent played well in the recent past. Our bowlers did well except for two big overs and we were positive from the word go with the bat. We are not looking too far ahead but if we click we can do wonders as a team. Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai: I thought we were 10 or 15 runs short with our total, although Dilshan played very well for Sri Lanka and showed a lot of responsibility. We also made mistakes with our fielding, so hopefully we can improve that in our next game.Sky pundit and England seamer James Anderson: I thought Afghanistan got a lesson in how to chase down a total from Dilshan - he showed all his experience and skill by taking on low risk shots all the way through a chanceless innings. It was great to watch.Sri Lanka and Afghanistan return to World T20 action on Sunday, with the former tackling Englands conqerors West Indies in Bangalore (1.30pm, Sky Sports 2) after Afghanistan battle South Africa in Mumbai (9am, Sky Sports 2). You can watch both games for £6.99 with a NOW TV Day Pass. Air Max Tavas Cheap .com) - Even on the day his New Hampshire football team became the nations top-ranked team two weeks ago, coach Sean McDonnell conceded something about the team they replaced at No. Air Max Tavas Black . Dancevic won his singles match on Friday, defeating Go Soeda 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-1, to even the best-of-five series at a game apiece. World No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky in the opening match, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. http://www.bestairmaxtavas.com/ . Anything less than gold for either nation is considered a disappointment. Yet for Switzerland, advancing to the semifinal might be a victory in itself. Cheap Air Max .J. - Trying to learn and absorb the new West Coast offence being installed by new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo, the New York Giants wrapped their final organized team activity Thursday before a three-day mini-camp next week. Air Max Tavas Black For Sale . -- Michigan coach John Beilein is willing to give Nik Stauskas a little leeway when it comes to shot selection.CINCINNATI - All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco agreed to a $28 million, four-year contract on Monday, leaving the Cincinnati Reds with two players in salary arbitration.The Reds were trying to get deals with two other All-Stars, third baseman Todd Frazier and closer Aroldis Chapman. They havent had a player go to an arbitration hearing since 2004.Mesoracos deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2.4 million this year, $4.9 million in 2016, $7.2 million in 2017 and $13 million in 2018. The salary in the final year can increase by as much as $2 million.Hes an example of a guy who has worked extremely hard and hes the kind of guy you want to build an organization around, general manager Walt Jocketty said.The 26-year-old catcher was a first-round pick — the 15th overall — in the June 2007 draft. He started 84 games in 2013 and the Reds decided he was ready to become the full-time catcher last season, when he made $525,000. He surpassed their expectations on offence.Mesoraco led all major league catchers in homers (25) and RBIs (80) while batting .273. His 24 homers while catching were the most by a Reds player since Johnny Bench in 1977.I think that before you do actually have success in this league, there is always a little bit of a question mark in your head just as far as if I can be successful, Mesoraco said Monday after the deal was announced. These are the toughest players in the world, so you have to actually go out there and do it, put up soome numbers and produce out on the field before its 100 per cent in your mind.ddddddddddddBut I definitely wasnt lacking confidence going into last year and it showed.The four-deal deal establishes him as part of the clubs core for the next few years. Starting pitcher Homer Bailey got a six-year, $105 million deal during spring training last year that runs through 2019. First baseman Joey Votto is playing under a 10-year, $225 million deal that runs through 2023. Right fielder Jay Bruce got a six-year, $51 million deal that runs through 2016.Mesoraco recognized that the deal makes him someone that people and fans can count on for being part of the club and producing out on the field — me and Joey and Homer and guys like that, guys that the organization has committed to.Mesoraco had asked for $3.6 million in arbitration and the club had offered $2.45 million. Frazier is seeking $5.7 million and Chapman has asked for $8.7 million.Mesoracos 2018 salary would go up by $400,000 each time he reaches 502 plate appearances in the first three years of the deal. It also has award escalators for that year, capped at $800,000. The salary would rise by $150,000 each for making the All-Star game and winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger. It would go up by $200,000 if hes among the top five in MVP voting, $150,000 for sixth through 10th, $100,000 for 11th through 15th and $50,000 for 16th through 20th.___Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay ' ' '