Thushara, Kusal shines as Sri Lanka outplays Afghanistan to move to super 4 in Asia cup

 

It was a match that held the fate of three teams. In the high-stakes clash between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh were watching anxiously from the sidelines. Their hopes rested on Sri Lanka’s shoulders—only a Lankan victory could carry them into the Super Four. And that is exactly what happened. The Sri Lankan cricketers brought smiles to Bangladeshi faces, defeating Afghanistan to secure their own Super Four berth while simultaneously opening the door for Bangladesh. Afghanistan, despite a late flourish, bowed out. Not even Mohammad Nabi’s breathtaking display of power-hitting—five sixes in five balls at the age of 40—could save them.

Haunted by their struggles chasing against Bangladesh in the previous game, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan chose to bat first after winning the toss. But he misread the pitch. Early on, batting was treacherous, easing only as the game wore on. That error proved costly. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, usually vulnerable to Afghanistan’s famed spin attack, looked supremely confident on this surface.

From the very start, Afghanistan’s batting faltered. Wickets tumbled in clusters. Once again, Sri Lanka’s young pacer Nuwan Thushara stole the spotlight with the new ball. In a fiery opening spell bowling fast & straight & some lethal yorkers , he shattered Afghanistan’s backbone by snaring three quick wickets. He eventually finished with superb figures of 4 for 18 in four overs. At 79 for 6, Afghanistan were staring at a meek total. Adding to their woes, Sri Lanka’s fielders sparkled—two catches from Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka stood out as jaw-dropping moments of brilliance. At that point, even 120 looked a stretch.

Then came Nabi’s explosive counterattack. In the final overs, he turned the game on its head with a blistering assault. First targeting Dushmantha Chameera and then left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, Nabi unleashed an astonishing spree of six-hitting. Waiting patiently for the matchup he wanted, he smashed five consecutive sixes off Wellalage in the final over. A sixth would have created history, but he fell just short. Still, his 22-ball 60, aided by Rashid Khan’s handy support, dragged Afghanistan to a competitive 169 for 8 in 20 overs.

The chase promised drama. With Afghanistan’s arsenal of spinners, the contest looked set for a twist, especially after in-form Pathum Nissanka fell early. For a moment, the Afghans sensed a rare victory over Sri Lanka. But Kusal Mendis stood tall. Anchoring the innings with poise and precision, he found steady allies in Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, and Kamindu Mendis. The Afghan spin trio—Nabi, Rashid, and Noor Ahmad—failed to make inroads. Even the returning Mujeeb Ur Rahman was wayward, leaking 42 runs in just 3.4 overs. Their pace and erratic lengths played into Sri Lanka’s hands, while sloppy fielding only deepened Afghanistan’s misery.

With eight balls to spare, Sri Lanka sealed a convincing six-wicket win. Mendis remained unbeaten on 74 off 52 balls—a classy knock that ensured their progression.

In the stands, Bangladeshi fans lived every moment. Nabi’s towering sixes had briefly silenced them, but as Sri Lanka crossed the finish line, they erupted with joy. Without even taking the field, Bangladesh too marched into the Super Four.