Nuwan Thushara took 4-18 and wicket-keeper batter Kusal Mendis produced a calm unbeaten 74 off 52 deliveries as Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by six wickets in their last Group B match of the Asia Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
The victory booked Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's place in the Super Fours, while Afghanistan, who made it to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year, were out of the tournament. In pursuit of 170 on a track that had both bounce and grip, Sri Lanka made a tough target look easy, thanks mainly to Kusal's classy innings that comprised ten boundaries and lovely shots like pulls, cuts, and sweeps.
Sri Lanka's reply started well but encountered some bumps early on. Pathum Nissanka was dismissed for six, pulling Azmatullah Omarzai to short fine leg. Kamil Mishara also got out, chipping Mohammad Nabi to extra cover, putting Sri Lanka at 52/2 at the powerplay and the game nicely poised.
Kusal then helped to settle the innings, scoring his fifty in 40 deliveries via a sweep, equalling Nissanka's 17 T20I half-centuries record. His intelligent ball rotation and gap-finding skills ensured Sri Lanka remained ahead of the required rate even as wickets fell at the other end.
The fall of Kusal Perera, caught behind off Mujeeb Ur Rahman, gave a fleeting surge of hopes to Afghanistan. Charith Asalanka's later dab to backward point, though, propelled Sri Lanka to 101/3, ensuring their Super Fours berths. Asalanka followed shortly, and Kamindu Mendis got a run-out scare as Rashid Khan, trying a direct hit, strained his back and had to retire.
Kusal and Kamindu finished the chase with calculated aggression, dispatching boundaries off Noor and Fazalhaq Farooqi, with Kusal sealing the win through a crisp cut and a pull through mid-wicket off Mujeeb. Afghanistan’s bowlers were guilty of conceding crucial runs at key moments, despite Mohammad Nabi’s heroics of 60 off 22 balls.
Earlier, the veteran Nabi had launched a breathtaking late-innings raid, smashing six sixes and taking Afghanistan to 169/ after being stuck at 120/7 at the end of 18 overs. His 46-run rampage in the last two overs comprised 32 runs in the last over, and his 35-run stand with skipper Rashid Khan (24) was the innings' highest. Nabi also took advantage of a dropped catch by Dunith Wellalage, which cost Sri Lanka dearly.
Afghanistan had started well with 26 from the first two overs, but the momentum faded after Thushara's penetrating powerplay spell saw off Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, and Sediqullah Atal to leave Afghanistan at 45/3 at the close of the powerplay.
Afghanistan was unable to turn the strike, and after the fourth over, it did not hit a boundary. Sri Lanka fielding was excellent, capped by Kusal Perera's relay catch to get rid of Darwish Rasooli and Dushmantha Chameera's diving effort to send Azmatullah Omarzai packing.
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