Abu Dhabi, Sep 18 (IANS) Nuwan Thushara picked 4-18 while wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis produced a composed unbeaten 74 off 52 balls to guide Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in their final Group B fixture of the Asia Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The result confirmed Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’s progression to the Super Fours, while Afghanistan, last year’s T20 World Cup semi-finalists, were knocked out of the tournament. Chasing 170 on a surface offering grip and bounce, Sri Lanka made a tricky target look routine, thanks largely to Kusal’s assured knock laced with ten boundaries.

Sri Lanka’s innings began with a flourish but soon went into troubled waters. Pathum Nissanka was dismissed for six, after pulling Azmatullah Omarzai straight to short fine leg. Kamil Mishara followed soon after, chipping Mohammad Nabi to extra cover. At 52/2 after the powerplay, the game was finely balanced.

Kusal, however, ensured stability. He reached his fifty off 40 balls with a sweep, equalling Nissanka’s tally of 17 T20I half-centuries. His ability to rotate strike and pick gaps kept Sri Lanka ahead of the required rate, even as wickets fell at the other end.

Kusal Perera’s dismissal, caught behind off Mujeeb Ur Rahman, briefly gave Afghanistan hope, but Charith Asalanka’s late dab to backward point took Sri Lanka to 101/3, confirming their qualification to the Super Fours. Asalanka fell soon after, and Kamindu Mendis survived a run-out scare when Rashid Khan, attempting a direct hit, injured his back and left the field.

Kusal and Kamindu closed out the chase with calculated aggression, picking boundaries off Noor and Fazalhaq Farooqi before the former sealed the win with a scything cut and a pull through mid-wicket off Mujeeb for boundaries. Afghanistan’s bowlers were also guilty of leaking runs at crucial junctures, as they suffered a premature exit from the competition despite Nabi’s heroics of 60 off just 22 balls.

Brief scores:

Afghanistan 169/8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nabi 60, Rashid Khan 24; Nuwan Thushara 4-18, Dasun Shanaka 1-29) lost to Sri Lanka 171/4 in 18.4 overs (Kusal Mendis 74 not out, Kusal Perera 28; Azmatullah Omarzai 1-10, Noor Ahmad 1-37) by six wickets

–IANS

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