Sri Lankan opening batter Kusal Mendis equaled Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan’s tally for most half-centuries in the T20 Asia Cup. Notably, former Team India skipper Virat Kohli and Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka lead the charts for most such scores in the continental tournament.
Sri Lanka secured the top spot in Group B after successfully chasing a 170-run target against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, September 18. Kusal Mendis was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victory in their final group match, scoring an unbeaten 74 from 52 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries.
Kusal Mendis Matches Mohammad Rizwan’s Record, Virat Kohli at the Top
Kusal Mendis has been one of the most consistent performers in the T20 Asia Cup, reaching his third fifty-plus score in nine matches. With this milestone, he equaled Mohammad Rizwan, who also has three such scores in the continental tournament.
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Virat Kohli, who retired from T20Is last year, is in the top place with four 50-plus knocks, including three fifties and a century. Meanwhile, Dinesh Chandimal, Fakhar Zaman, Rohit Sharma, and Babar Hayat have each registered two half-centuries in the tournament.
| Rank | Player | Matches | 50+ Scores | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| 2 | Pathum Nissanka | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | Kusal Mendis | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Mohammad Rizwan | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | Dinesh Chandimal | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | Babar Hayat | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | Fakhar Zaman | 9 | 2 | 0 |
Kusal Mendis Breaks Mohammad Rizwan’s Record
Kusal Mendis also broke another T20 Asia Cup record with his knock against Afghanistan. He recorded the highest individual score in a successful run chase in the tournament’s history.
The Sri Lankan opener surpassed Mohammad Rizwan, who had scored 71 off 51 balls against India during the Asia Cup 2022. Mendis also registered the second-best score by a Sri Lankan in the competition, falling just one run short of Tillakaratne Dilshan’s unbeaten 75 against Pakistan in 2016.
Highest individual score in Men’s T20 Asia Cup in successful run-chases:
| Player | Opposition | Score | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis | Afghanistan | 74* (52) | Abu Dhabi | 2025 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | India | 71 (51) | Dubai | 2022 |
| Pathum Nissanka | Hong Kong | 68 (44) | Dubai | 2025 |
| Shoaib Malik | UAE | 63* (49) | Mirpur | 2016 |
| Noor Ali Zadran | Oman | 63 (44) | Fatullah | 2016 |
Sri Lanka Set to Face Bangladesh in Super Four Clash on September 20
Sri Lanka completed the 170-run target against Afghanistan with eight balls to spare. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara fell early in the run chase, leaving Sri Lanka at 47/2.
Kusal Mendis steadied the innings, while Kusal Perera (28) and Charith Asalanka (17) provided brief support. Kamindu Mendis smashed an unbeaten 26 off 13 balls, including two sixes, to guide the team across the finish line without any hiccups.
The Afghanistan bowlers struggled for breakthroughs, with Rashid Khan going wicketless and Noor Ahmad conceding more than 12 runs per over. Earlier, Mohammad Nabi smashed 60 off 22 balls to help Afghanistan post a competitive total of 169/8.
Sri Lanka secured the top spot in Group B and will face Bangladesh in their Super Four clash in Dubai on September 20.
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