Kusal Mendis Masterclass Nullifies Nabi's Blitz as Sri Lanka Knocks Afghanistan Out of Asia Cup
In a thrilling encounter that swung between clinical dominance and explosive chaos, Sri Lanka secured its place in the Asia Cup Super Four, knocking a valiant Afghanistan out of the tournament with a hard-fought six-wicket victory. The match was a tale of two incredible individual performances: a sensational late-innings blitz from Mohammad Nabi that nearly stole the game for Afghanistan, and a masterful, unbeaten half-century from Kusal Mendis that calmly steered Sri Lanka through a treacherous chase. The result also confirmed Bangladesh's qualification for the next stage from a highly competitive Group B.
A Game of Two Halves Afghanistan's Late Explosion
For the majority of their innings, Afghanistan was completely strangled by a disciplined and incisive Sri Lankan bowling attack. The star of the show was pacer Nuwan Thushara, who ripped through the top order with a devastating opening spell. He claimed three crucial wickets inside the powerplay with his sharp outswing, finishing with exceptional figures of 4 for 18 and leaving Afghanistan struggling to build any momentum. The Sri Lankan spinners, led by the economical Wanindu Hasaranga, continued to apply the pressure through the middle overs, and it seemed Afghanistan was headed for a well-below-par total.
However, the entire complexion of the game was turned on its head in a stunning display of power-hitting from the veteran all-rounder, Mohammad Nabi. In one of the most explosive overs in recent memory, Nabi smashed five consecutive sixes off the unfortunate spinner Dunith Wellalage in the final over of the innings. This incredible assault, part of a 49-run blitz in the last two overs, propelled Afghanistan to a highly competitive total of 169 and gave them a massive surge of momentum heading into the chase.
The Kusal Mendis Anchor Role
Faced with a tricky target and a fired-up Afghan bowling attack, Sri Lanka's chase was anchored by a performance of immense skill and composure from Kusal Mendis. While wickets fell at the other end, Mendis played a masterful innings, expertly navigating the threat of Afghanistan's world-class spinners. His use of the sweep and pull shots was particularly effective, allowing him to keep the scoreboard ticking and prevent the required run rate from spiraling out of control. He built a series of crucial partnerships, ensuring that Sri Lanka never fell too far behind in the chase, and his unbeaten 74 from 52 balls was the bedrock of the entire run chase.
The Finishing Touch
Despite Mendis's heroics, the game was still in the balance heading into the final five overs, with Sri Lanka needing 48 runs. It was here that the other Mendis in the side, Kamindu, stepped up to play a crucial finisher's role. In a brilliant cameo, he smashed two pivotal sixes off Afghanistan's key bowlers, relieving the pressure on his senior partner and swinging the momentum decisively back in Sri Lanka's favor. His quickfire, unbeaten 26 from just 13 balls was the final piece of the puzzle, allowing Sri Lanka to cruise to victory with eight balls to spare. It was a testament to Sri Lanka's batting depth and their ability to hold their nerve in a high-pressure situation, a quality that will serve them well as they advance to the next stage of the tournament.
