Kusal Mendis’ calm fifty underneath strain overshadowed the six-hitting fest from Mohammd Nabi as Sri Lanka knocked Afghanistan out of Asia Cup with a six-wicket win right here on Thursday, sending themselves and Bangladesh into the Tremendous 4s.
Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Thushara (4/18) struck thrice in his deadly opening spell earlier than Nabi smashed 5 sixes within the twentieth over to catapult Afghanistan to 169 for eight from a dire 79 for six within the thirteenth over.
The sport went proper all the way down to the wire with Kusal Mendis (74 not out) anchoring Sri lanka’s chase. Finally, Kusal and Kamindu Mendis (26 not out off 13) bought the job achieved in 18.4 overs.
With three wins from as many video games, Sri Lanka topped Group B whereas Bangladesh too superior to the following stage with two wins from three video games together with in opposition to T20 World Cup semifinalists Afghanistan.
Having certified for the finals in the midst of their chase, Sri Lanka weren’t going to accept something lower than a win. With 48 wanted off the final 30 balls and 6 wickets in hand, Sri Lanka had the higher hand.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan conceded simply 23 runs in his 4 overs with the batters not taking too many dangers in opposition to him. He. nevertheless, damage his again in his closing over forcing him off the sphere.
The seventeenth over from Noor Ahmad yielded 17 runs, tilting the sport decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.
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Earlier, it appeared Afghanistan would wrestle to get previous 120 however Nabi (60 off 22) hammered 5 sixes within the twentieth over from left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage to gather 32 runs off the six legit balls.
It’s uncommon for a spinner to bowl the ultimate over, however captain Charith Asalanka had already exhausted his tempo bowling choices.
Having not chased properly within the current previous, Afghanistan opted to bat however misplaced three wickets contained in the powerplay to lose the momentum generated within the first two overs that had yielded 26 runs.
The intent, which was lacking within the final recreation, was there however Afghanistan batters didn’t know easy methods to cope with the shifting ball from Thushara, who produced late swing along with his slingy motion, catching the likes of Karim Janat (1) and Sediquallah Atal (18 off 14) off guard.
Thushara bowled an away swinger to right-hander Janat earlier than the same supply led to the downfall of the damaging left-hander Atal, who too noticed his stumps disturbed.
Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the primary to get out, mistiming a wild slog that was pouched a large slip.
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Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga placed on the squeeze within the center overs because the wickets saved on falling, decreasing Afghanistan to 79 for six within the thirteenth over.
However courtesy skipper Rashid Khan (24 off 23) and his 35-run seventh-wicket stand with Nabi, Afghanistan have been in a position to cross the 140-run mark. Rashid’s cameo included a no-look six within the cow nook area — a shot which now options recurrently in his playbook.
Nabi smashed Dushmantha Chameera for 3 successive fours within the penultimate over that went for 17 runs. Chameera proved moderately costly on the evening, leaking as many as 50 runs in his 4 overs.
Apart from their spectacular bowling effort, Sri Lanka’s fielding too was on level, properly summed by the catches taken by Chameera and Kusal Perera within the deep to dismiss Ibrahim Zadran (24) and Darwish Rasooli.