AFG vs SL | Efficient Kusal Mendis shadows blistering Nabi heroics as Afghans crash out of Asia Cup

‌‌Opting to bat first, Sediqullah Atal got Afghanistan off to an explosive start with a maximum and two boundaries in Dushmantha Chameera's first over to have the team sitting pretty at 26/0 after two. However, Nuwan Thushara ripped apart all momentum with a slow ball to dispatch Rahmanullah Gurbaaz before an outswinging peach sent the promoted Karim Janat's off-stump flying the very same over. Thushara then added Atal to his tally in his next over with another death rattle and the Afghans found themselves reeling at 45/3 at the powerplay's end. Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli tried to instil some stability with a cautious 24-run stand off 34 balls but the latter's attempt at breaking the shackles saw him hole out at third-man, courtesy a brilliant leaping take from Kusal Perera. Azmatullah Omarzai and Zadran followed within the next 10 balls to further reduce the score to 79/6, leaving Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi to save their team the graces. The skipper began in belligerent fashion, dancing down the track to earn four off Dunith Wellalage on his second delivery before banishing Shanaka for a six and a four a couple of overs later. However, regular dot balls kept stifling the Afghans, and ultimately brought about Rashid's wicket in the 18th over courtesy another Thushara slower ball. With two overs to go, the score read 120/7 with Nabi the last Afghan hope. The 40-year-old lkept that spark alive with three consecutive boundaries in the penultimate over, thus exposing Wellalage as the only bowler remaining to bowl the 20th. The veteran stood on business to slam five straight sixes to notch a 20-ball half-century and send the Lions into a frenzy, setting them a suddenly daunting target of 170.