Sri Lanka dump Afghanistan out of Asia Cup with six-wicket win

Afghanistan, who is currently in the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal, was eliminated from the Asia Cup thanks to Sri Lanka’s six-wicket victory in Abu Dhabi.

With two victories and a loss, Sri Lanka won Group B, leading Bangladesh, who also qualified for the Super 4.

With more than an over to go, Sri Lanka’s authoritative run-chase of 171-4 against spin-heavy Afghanistan was anchored by Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 74 off 52 balls.

Afghanistan had a chance with a final score of 169-8 against spinner Dunith Wellalage thanks to Mohammad Nabi’s (60) five big sixes in the final over, which was won by captain Rashid Khan.

With his skillfully executed sweep shots, Mendis effectively neutralized the spin trio. Noor Ahmad, a rare left-arm spinner, scored 1-37 off his three overs in a pricey T20. Ravishd returned with a score of 0-23 after four overs but couldn’t break through Mendis’ defenses in a quiet middle over.

In the powerplay, Nabi (1-20) took the wicket after Mendis and Kusal Perera (28) scored a 45-run stand to restore the lead.

In the death overs, Charith Asalanka made 17 of the team’s 12 balls before Kamindu Mendis (26 not out) and Kusal countercharged Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi (38).

Rashid remarked, “We did not bowl as well as we should have, and that is why we did not win.”

We did not chase 150 in the final game [versus Bangladesh], but we had a great chance. At the previous T20 World Cup, there was a semifinal, and we had a chance to advance to at least the following round. We’ll consider it, analyze it, and come back stronger.

With three wickets in the powerplay, which included two flawless inswingers that rattled Sediqullah Atal (18) and Karim Jannat (1), Nuwan Thushara (4-18) completed Afghanistan’s top-order with three wickets.

Afghanistan fell to 114-7 in 17.1 overs when Ibrahim Zadran struggled for 27 balls to score 24.

Up until the 18th over, Sri Lanka excelled in the fight against Afghanistan, with Kusal Perera making outstanding catchable passes for Rahmanullah Gurbaz and a juggling catch to dismiss Darwish Rasooli.

However, Sri Lanka became shaky after the innings’ final outing when Wellalage should have tapped Nabi for a 6 before the all-rounder’s late onslaught produced an incredible knock.

Nabi scored 46 of the 49 runs Afghanistan made in the final two overs, scoring first to Dushmantha Chameera (13-5) for three straight boundaries in the penultimate over, before unleashing powerful hitting against Wellalage when he smacked the spinner’s first five legitimate deliveries for sixes before getting run out off the final ball.