Kusal Mendis' ferocious start and an essential lower-order knock by Bhanuka Rajapaksa pushed Sri Lanka to a four-wicket win over Afghanistan in their Asia Cup Super 4 competition. Set 176 for a win, Sri Lanka leaned on an attacking 62-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka (35) and Mendis (36). They accmolplished their goal with five balls to spare at Sharjah. Afghanistan's bowlers got regular wickets to slower down Sri Lanka's middle-order. However, Rajapaksa's 31 off 14 balls and a sure shot 16 not out from Wanindu Hasaranga helped them accomplish the sky high pursuit at the desert venue.
Nissanka attacked the bashed the bowlers with several few boundaries and then Mendis started smashing leg-spinner Rashid Khan for two sixes to touch the team's fifty. Nissanka made efforts to keep up but fell to spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman with Gurbaz making a catch.
Rashid bowled Gunathilaka but Hasaranga smashed three boundaries to near the target.