Mendis and Thushara Propel Sri Lanka into Super 4 Stage
ASIA CUP, 2025
Kusal and Kamindu Mendis crafted an unbroken 52-run partnership from 23 balls, propelling Sri Lanka to victory © ACC
In a commanding display, Sri Lanka secured a spot in the Super 4s with a 6-wicket triumph over Afghanistan in their final Group B encounter. This victory also ensured Bangladesh’s advancement and Afghanistan’s exit from the tournament. Despite Mohammad Nabi’s remarkable 22-ball 60, which lifted Afghanistan to a respectable total of 169/8, it wasn’t enough for winning or advancing.
Key to Victory
It was the PowerPlay that made the difference. Despite losing a couple of wickets, Sri Lanka’s solid groundwork, spearheaded by Kusal Mendis, laid the foundation for their successful chase. In contrast, Afghanistan struggled after losing three major wickets in the first six overs.
| Parameters | Afghanistan | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 45/3 | 53/2 |
| Run rate | 7.50 | 8.83 |
| 4s/6s | 4/1 | 7/0 |
Afghanistan
PowerPlay Missteps: Afghanistan’s innings began with promise but quickly faltered, losing three wickets due to Nuwan Thushara’s exceptional bowling. Notable was his dismissal of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Karim Janat with impressive swing bowling.
Middle Overs Pressure: Struggling to build momentum, Afghanistan lost vital wickets, despite attempts by Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli to stabilize the innings.
Death Overs Revival: Mohammad Nabi’s explosive batting in the final overs resurrected Afghanistan’s innings, although it wasn’t enough to clinch the win.
Sri Lanka
PowerPlay Steadiness: Sri Lanka mirrored Afghanistan’s initial aggression but maintained a steadier hand, overcoming early setbacks to stay on track.
Middle Overs Consistency: Kusal Mendis’s enduring presence was key, as he and Kusal Perera formed a crucial partnership that stabilized the chase.
Decisive Finish: In the final overs, Kamindu and Kusal Mendis orchestrated a robust finish, ensuring Sri Lanka crossed the line with ease.
Final Scores: Afghanistan 169/8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nabi 60, Rashid Khan 24; Nuwan Thushara 4-18) lost to Sri Lanka 171/4 in 18.4 overs (Kusal Mendis 74*, Kusal Perera 28; Azmatullah Omarzai 1-20) by 6 wickets.
Next Steps: With Afghanistan’s exit, Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in the Super 4s opener in Dubai on September 20.
© Cricbuzz
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