By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka tore through Afghanistan by a six wicket storming into the Asia Cup Super Four with eight balls to spare hastened by an authoritative unbeaten 74 off 53 by Kusal Mendis packed with 10 boundaries following quick Nuwan Thushara’s career best brilliant 4 for 18 feat despite a last gasp Mohammad Nabi last over five sixes 60 cameo that lifted his side to 169 for 8 from the doldrums of 114 for 7 at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadiumu yesterday.

Mendis stood firm in a Player of the Match innings to negating a 2 for 47 hiccup in adding 45 for the third wicket with Kusal Janith Perera who struck a breezy 28 off 20 with 3 boundaries. Skipper Charith Asalanka 17 off 12 took Sri Lanka to 119. His dismissal by Noor Ahmad brought Kamindu Mendis to what was the sealing final show as the two Mendis’ took Sri Lanka home with Kamindu striking 26 off 13 hoisting two to the stands in that unfinished fifth-wicket wicket 52-run super four hurrah.

The Lankans unleashed a facile all-round show as Afghanistan’s super four dream melted before Thushara’s impeccable 4-wicket show declining to 6 for 79 into 12.1 overs fired by a successive 3-wicket burst removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 26 snapped up by Kusal Janith Perera and bowling Karim Janat for 1 and Sediqullah Atal for 18 in the space of eleven balls as the skid was further precipitated by Dushmantha Chameera who had Darwish Rasooli caught by Kusal Janith for 9. Dasun Shanaka then bowled Azmatullah Omarazi for 6 before Dunith Wellalage, who replaced Mahees Theekshana, had Ibrahim Zadran caught by Chameera for 24 as Afghanistan reeled on 79 for 6 after 12.1 overs.

Mohammad Nabi’s last last over five sixes assault on Wellalage took them to the respectability of 169 for 8.

The result meant Bangladesh was the other team through to the last four from their group.

Sri Lanka 171 for 4 (Kusal 74*, Perera 28, Omarzai 1-10) beat Afghanistan 169 for 8 (Nabi 60, Rashid 24, Ibrahim 24, Thushara 4-18) by six wickets.