DHAKA, Sept 18, 2025 (BSS) - Opener Kusal Mendis hit a scintillating half-century as Sri Lanka overcame a Mohammad Nabi scare to beat Afghanistan by six wickets in a crucial Asia Cup contest at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.

The Lankan's victory also ensured Bangladesh's Super 4 berth, putting the pre-match complex equation issue to rest.

In case of an Afghan victory, Bangladesh would have made an exit from the Asia Cup.

However, Sri Lanka topped the Group B, thanks to their victory in all three matches while Bangladesh became group runners-up after winning against Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

India and Pakistan confirmed Super 4 berth from Group A. 

The four teams will meet each other in the Super 4 with Bangladesh playing against Sri Lanka in the first match on Saturday at Dubai.

Mohammad Nabi struck a marauding 22 ball-60, including 32 runs in the last over as Afghanistan recovered from early collapse to post 169-8, giving the side a glimmer of hope to make Super 4 berth.

But Sri Lanka gunned down the target with relative ease, keeping eight balls unused, courtesy of Mendis's 52 ball-74 not out, laced with 10 boundaries. 

Mendis kept the side rolling with sustained aggression even though Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishra fell to single digit figure, leaving Sri Lanka 47-2 in sixth overs.

Mendi and Kusal Perera who made 28 off 20, put on 45 runs partnership for the third wicket to edge the side closer to victory. 

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Noor Ahmed dismissed Perera and Captain Charith Asalanka in quick succession to give Afghanistan a little hope.

Kamindu Mendis, however, hit an aggressive 13 ball-26 not out to give the chase a pace while Kusal Mendis confirmed the victory with a boundary. 

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan were tied by Sri Lanka bowlers with Nuwan Thushara being the standout. He returned figures of 4-18 and three in the first powerplay, leaving Afghanistan at precarious 45-3.

The likes of Dushmanth Chameera, Dasun Shanaka and Dunith Wellalaga, all bowled well in the middle overs, keeping Afghanistan at troubling 79-6 in 13th overs.

Mohammad Nabi joined captain Rashid Khan and the turning point came when Wellalage dropped Nabi off Chameera's bowling.

Nabi initially played second fiddle to Rashaid who made 23 before Thusara came back in his second spell to rattle his stump.

Nabi then got into act, making Sri Lanka pay heavily for the let down as he smashed all Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts, ransacking 32 off the 20th and 49 off in the last two. 

He hit Wellalaga five sixes in five legal deliveries to stand on the brink of history of slamming six sixes in an over. However he failed to connect properly in the last ball and was run out, trying for second runs.

But his audacious knock, that laced with three fours and six sixes, gave Afghanistan a total that looked challenging on sluggish pitch. But at the end, Kusal Mendia made a mockery of the chase.