Nissanka's unbeaten 210 on Friday, which included 20 fours and eight sixes from 139 balls, also saw him beat Sanath Jayasuria's long-standing record highest individual score of 189 for Sri Lanka in the 2000 Champions Trophy final against India.
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Nissanka and fellow opener Avishka Fernando (88) soon set about the Afghanistan attack, putting on 182 for the first wicket in the 27th over.
Sadeera Samarawickrama added a useful 45 off 36 deliveries as Nissanka guided the hosts on to an imposing 3-381. Fareed Ahmad Malik picked up 2-79.
In reply, Afghanistan were soon reduced to 3-19 in the sixth over after Pramod Madushan took three wickets before fine centuries from Azmatullah Omarzai, who finished 149 not out, and Mohammad Nabi (136) pushed the tourists on under the floodlights to fall just short in their run chase at 6-339.
Sri Lanka will be looking to wrap up a series victory in the second ODI on Sunday, held again at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
HIGHEST SCORES IN ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
264-Rohit Sharma, India v Sri Lanka, Kolkata, 2014
237*-Martin Guptill, New Zealand v West Indies, Wellington, 2015
219-Virender Sehwag, India v West Indies, Indore, 2011
215-Chris Gayle, West Indies v Zimbabwe, Canberra, 2015
210*-Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2018
210*-Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka v Afghanistan, Pallekele, 2024
210-Ishan Kishan, India v Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2022
209-Rohit Sharma, India v Australia, Bengaluru, 2013
208*-Rohit Sharma, India v Sri Lanka, Mohali, 2017
208-Shubman Gill, India v New Zealand, Hyderabad, 2023
201*-Glenn Maxwell, Australia v Afghanistan, Mumbai, 2023
200*-Sachin Tendulkar, India v South Africa, Gwalior, 2010
With AP
