Despite conceding 49 runs in the final two overs, Sri Lanka clinched victory thanks to Kusal Mendis’s brilliant innings and Kamindu Mendis’s late flourish, and joined Bangladesh in the Super Four.
Even without being in the match, Bangladesh were deeply invested in the outcome. Their main hope was a Sri Lankan win. For much of the game, Sri Lanka dominated, but erratic bowling in the last two overs almost let the match slip away. However, Kusal Mendis’s masterful innings and Kamindu Mendis’s late heroics helped Sri Lanka defeat Afghanistan and secure their place in the Super Four alongside Bangladesh.
In the final Group ‘B’ match in Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka won by six wickets, chasing a target of 170 with eight balls to spare under Charith Asalanka’s leadership.
At one stage, Afghanistan were 79 for 6, and after 18 overs they were 120 for 7. From there, they managed 49 runs in the last two overs to finish with 169.
Mohammad Nabi played a destructive 66 off 22 balls after surviving on five runs. He hit five consecutive sixes off Dunith Wellalage in the final over.
Sri Lanka’s Super Four ticket was secured when they reached 101 runs. The only remaining contenders for progression from this group were Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Afghanistan needed a win to advance but failed, bowing out at the group stage.
Sri Lanka topped the group with three wins and six points, while Bangladesh finished as runners-up with four points. Afghanistan had only two points after losing to both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, having won against Hong Kong.
Kusal Mendis was the hero for Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 74 off 52 balls. Kamindu Mendis contributed 26 not out off 13 balls, and the duo shared an unbeaten 52-run partnership in just 23 balls.
At the Zahid Cricket Stadium on Thursday, Afghanistan began reasonably well, scoring 26 without loss in the first two overs. However, wickets soon fell regularly, with Nuwan Thushara dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Karim Janat in the same over, and later removing Sedikullah Atal in his next over.
Darwish Rasooli’s troubled innings ended in the 10th over for 8 off 16 balls, caught brilliantly by Kusal Perera at the boundary. Azmatullah Omarzai also survived a chance when Kusal Mendis missed a catch, before being dismissed in the following over by Dasun Shanaka. Ibrahim Zadran fell for 24 off 27 balls to Dushmantha Chameera’s superb catch.
At 12.1 overs, Afghanistan were 79 for 6. Captain Rashid Khan tried to accelerate the scoring, hitting four and six off consecutive balls from Shanaka. Nabi survived a chance in the 17th over and made the most of it, smashing three consecutive fours off Chameera in the same over, followed by five sixes in five balls off Wellalage in the final over, finishing 66 before being run out attempting a second run.
Sri Lanka had started their chase cautiously. Pathum Nissanka fell for 6 in the powerplay, and Kamil Mishara managed just 4 off 10 balls. However, a partnership between Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera steadied the innings, adding 53 runs for the second wicket in the powerplay. Mendis reached his fifty off 40 balls, and Perera scored 28 before being dismissed by Mujib-ur-Rahman’s spin.
In the final five overs, Sri Lanka needed 48 runs. Despite a chance to run out Kusal Mendis in the 16th over, Rashid failed to capitalize and retired hurt after the over, conceding 23 runs in four overs without a wicket. Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis then ensured victory with a flurry of boundaries.
Brief Score
- Afghanistan: 169/8 in 20 overs (Gurbaz 14, Sedikullah 18, Janat 1, Ibrahim 24, Rasooli 9, Omarzai 6, Nabi 60, Rashid 24, Nur 6*; Thushara 4-0-18-4, Chameera 4-0-50-1, Wellalage 4-0-49-1, Shanaka 4-0-29-1, Hasaranga 4-0-18-0)
- Sri Lanka: 171/4 in 18.4 overs (Nissanka 6, Kusal Mendis 74*, Mishara 4, Perera 28, Asalanka 17, Kamindu Mendis 26*; Faruki 3-0-38-0, Mujib 3.4-0-42-1, Omarzai 2-0-10-1, Nabi 3-0-23-0, Rashid 4-0-23-0, Nur 3-0-37-1)
Result: Sri Lanka won by six wickets
Man of the Match: Kusal Mendis
