Sri Lanka beats Afghanistan to open Asia Cup Super Four stage

Sri Lanka beats Afghanistan to open Asia Cup Super Four stage, Kusal Mendis fiery start and key lower order knock by Bhunuka Rajapaksa powered Sri Lanka to a four wicket win over Afghanistan in their Asia Cup Super Four.

Set 176 for victory, Sri Lanka leaned on an attacking 62-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka (35) Mendis (36) to achieve their target with five balls to spare at Sharjah.

Sri Lankan skipper said, "we can always analysis the wicket better when chasing.

Earlier , Rahmanulla Gurbaz smashed 84 to guide Afghanistan to 175-6 a total that could have been bigger had Sri Lankan bowler not hurt the Afghanistan with late strike.

Afghanistan, who had crushed Sri Lanka

 and Bangladesh to move into the super four stage, managed just 37 runs in the last five overs

"We were about 20-25 runs short , and also we didn't field well or bowl in the right areas, said Afghanistan Captain Muhammad Nabi.