CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – Kusal Mendis hit a splendid 92 as Sri Lanka amassed an impressive 291 for eight in 50 overs in the sixth match of the 2023 Asia Cup Limited Overs Cricket Tournament Group ‘B’ clash against Afghanistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday.
Afghanistan now needs to chase down this target in a maximum of 37.1 overs if they are to make it to the Super Fours Segment of this six-team competition.
Mendis played the sheet anchor role from the moment he came into the crease and laid the platform for a match winning total after Sri Lanka had won the toss and elected to bat first.
The 28-year-old right-hand wicket-keeper batsman raced to his half century from 55 balls inclusive of five boundaries and was unfortunately dismissed just eight runs short of his hundred.
But by that time, Mendis had already added a superb 102 runs for the fourth wicket along with Charith Asalanka and was dismissed in the 40th over after having hoisted three sixes and struck six boundaries.
Sri Lanka, of course, suffered a mini collapse midway in the innings as they slumped to 227 for seven after being strongly placed at 188 for three at one stage.
Afghanistan came back into the game with a couple of quick wickets, and they believed that they could keep the Sri Lankans to under 250 runs in this must-win encounter.
However, all-rounders Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana had different ideas as the pair put on a fighting 64 runs for the eighth wicket without taking much of a risk.
Wellalage remained unbeaten on 33 from 39 balls with one six and three boundaries while his partner Theekshana was dismissed in the last ball of the innings for a well-compiled 28 from 24 balls studded with one six and two boundaries.
Chief scores:
Sri Lanka: 291/8 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 41, Dimuth Karunaratne 32, Kusal Mendis 92, Charith Asalanka 36, Dunith Wellalage 33 n.o, Maheesh Theekshana 28, Gulbadin Naib 4/60, Rashid Khan 2/63) v Afghanistan.
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