Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

BKG Mendis
BKG Mendis
74(52) 10x4 - 0x6
Control %84%
  • Productive Shot
  • pull
  • 13 runs
  • 3x4 - 0x6
1 8 14 6 18 0 2 25
Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi
60(22) 3x4 - 6x6
Control %81%
  • Productive Shot
  • off drive
  • 20 runs
  • 0x4 - 3x6
0 4 5 5 2 20 8 16

Best performances - Bowlers

N Thushara
O4
M0
R18
W4
Eco4.5
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W
Azmatullah Omarzai
Azmatullah Omarzai
O2
M0
R10
W1
Eco5
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF

Commentator: Shashwat Kumar

10:38pm That will be all from us for this game. The identity of all four teams in the Super Four has been confirmed. Only one league game remains now before we head into that stage, with India taking on Oman tomorrow. Do join us for that as well. Until then, this is me (Shashwat Kumar) signing off on behalf of the entire crew at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!

Kusal Mendis, Player of the Match: Very happy with my innings, supported really well by Kamindu and Kusal (Perera). Everyone supported me, I enjoyed my innings. The (Afghanistan) spinners are a little faster compared to other teams, very happy that we played really well today. Kamindu batted really well, hitting a couple of boundaries. Easier then to play my innings. (On the Super Four) We have good games against three good teams. We have a good, balanced team. I hope we can do well.

Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain: I am really pleased with the performance today. It was almost a perfect game for us. Up front, pacers doing their job and only one time we got it wrong - the last over. But apart from that, we did a good job. (On Thushara) He is a phenomenal person for us. With the new ball, most of the times, he bowls two or three overs and does his job for the country. (On their catching) It was outstanding, especially Perera's two catches and Dushmantha's catch, it was outstanding. (How much time they spend on fielding) We want to be the best fielding side. We work a lot on that. 100 percent catching is one of our main targets. When it comes to shorter formats, we need to catch everything. (On the support from the fans) That is what we need. When we are outside in other countries, their support (means) a lot to us, and hopefully they are supporting us in the future as well.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan captain: (On Nabi and his last-over exploits) The way we finished off the innings was so special. We knew one over was there of the spinner and if one proper batter was there, we had maximum chance of (getting a big over). We did not bowl as well as we should have and that is why we did not win. It is pretty hard on a track like that. It is not a typical spinning wicket. Different to Dubai. But still, if you play good cricketing shots, it is possible to chase 170-180. We had a great chance in the last game, we did not chase 150. That is what happens in T20 cricket. But we have to move forward and not repeat the mistakes. Last three years, we have played a lot of ICC events and Asia Cups. We had great preparation for each, but I was expecting a lot more from the boys. Was not expecting to be eliminated. We had a semi-final at the last T20 World Cup and the expectation was to be at least in the next round. We will think about it, analyze and come back stronger.

Hans: "Congratulations to Srilanka. Their fielding efforts and bowling discipline were one of the main differences. But why did Azmat Omarzai not complete his quota? Two overs, 10 runs, and one wicket. " -- It was a strange call, especially considering the others were expensive throughout.

Murtaza Mustafa: "Sri Lanka on their day can bite you hard and can beat any team on their day. Well Played Here we come Super Fours...Lions Roar!!!"

10:15pm A tricky run-chase made to look rather routine by Sri Lanka. Kusal, opening the batting, was the star of the show. His unbeaten 74 off 52 balls shepherded Sri Lanka through the tougher periods and when he opened up his shoulders, his stroke-play was awesome to watch. Perera chipped in too through the middle, as did Kamindu towards the end and after the hiccups endured against Hong Kong a few days ago, this will please Sri Lanka significantly.

A tough and gutting day for Afghanistan at the office. Nabi had given them plenty to bowl at but their bowlers, so often their match-winners, failed to turn up. Rashid was economical but finished wicket-less, with the rest, the likes of Farooqi, Mujeeb and Noor going for plenty. Nabi tried his best with his off-spin but once Sri Lanka turned it up a notch, Afghanistan, on the night, did not have many answers.

18.4
4
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to BKG Mendis, FOUR, splits the field to perfection, and the party starts in Bangladesh! Sri Lanka win, of course they do, but they also do Bangladesh a big favour! Sri Lanka and Bangladesh into the Super Four and Afghanistan, T20 World Cup semi-finalists, are out! Another drag-down, finishing on middle and leg. Kusal rocks back, opens up his stance and bludgeons it to deep mid wicket's right. A clinical shot to cap off a clinical run-chase and Kusal, struggling for form prior tot his contest, has come up trump to send Afghanistan packing!

Just three more needed now

18.3
4
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to BKG Mendis, FOUR, short, wide and into the fence! Too much width again and that sort of sums up tonight's bowling performance for Afghanistan. Kusal sits deep in his crease and scythes it behind point!
18.2
1
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to PHKD Mendis, 1 run, back of a length on middle and off. Kamindu stays back and bunts it into the mid wicket region. He wants two but Mujeeb sprints after it to deny him the second
18.1
2
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to PHKD Mendis, 2 runs, fired in full on the pads. Kamindu clips it towards deep backward square leg, where Janat misfields and makes the second a very comfortable exercise

Sri Lanka are almost there, and by extension, Bangladesh, who have had quite a storied rivalry with Sri Lanka, are almost there too. Funny sport this. 10 off 12 now. Mujeeb to bowl

END OF OVER:
18 | 15 Runs | SL: 160/4 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.88, RRR: 5.00)

  • Kusal Mendis66 (50b)
  • Kamindu Mendis23 (11b)
  • Fazalhaq Farooqi3-0-38-0
  • Noor Ahmad3-0-37-1
17.6
2
Fazalhaq Farooqi to BKG Mendis, 2 runs, loopy and gentle full toss outside off. Mendis bends his back knee and heaves it towards deep mid wicket for a couple of runs

Chants of "Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka" going around now

17.5
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to PHKD Mendis, 1 run, safe! slot ball outside off. Kamindu plants his front foot and cloths it on the bounce to long on

Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st22BKG MendisP Nissanka
2nd25BKG MendisK Mishara
3rd45MDKJ PereraBKG Mendis
4th27BKG MendisKIC Asalanka
5th52BKG MendisPHKD Mendis