**Asia Cup 2025: Kamindu Mendis Shines Against Pakistan**
*By Parth Dhall | Sep 23, 2025, 11:14 PM*
Sri Lanka posted a challenging total of 133/8 against Pakistan in the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup Super Four match held at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The standout performance came from Kamindu Mendis, who played a crucial role in guiding his team to this competitive score with a resilient half-century.
### Early Batting Woes for Sri Lanka
Batting first, Sri Lanka struggled initially as wickets fell in quick succession. Kusal Mendis was dismissed for a duck on just the second ball of the innings, and Pathum Nissanka also fell cheaply after scoring only 8 runs. Though Kusal Perera and skipper Charith Asalanka added some runs, they were dismissed for 15 and 20 runs respectively. At one point, Sri Lanka had lost half their side for just 58 runs, putting them under significant pressure.
### Kamindu Mendis Anchors the Innings
Shaheen Afridi, Hussain Talat, and Haris Rauf were pivotal in triggering Sri Lanka’s batting collapse early on. However, Kamindu Mendis stood firm. With the team reeling at 80/6 following Wanindu Hasaranga’s departure for 15, Mendis stitched a valuable 43-run partnership with Chamika Karunaratne, helping Sri Lanka push past the 120-run mark.
Kamindu’s innings included 50 runs off 44 balls, featuring 3 fours and 2 sixes. Unfortunately, he was dismissed in a controversial Decision Review System (DRS) call, trapped lbw by Shaheen Afridi in the penultimate over, which sparked debate among fans.
### Milestone Achievement for Kamindu Mendis
In this match, Kamindu Mendis crossed a significant milestone, surpassing 500 runs in T20 internationals. Playing his 32nd T20I, he now has accumulated 525 runs in 28 innings, maintaining an average of 21. His strike rate currently stands at 128.04, and he has recorded three half-centuries in this format so far.
—
Kamindu Mendis’s valiant effort was key in giving Sri Lanka a fighting chance against a strong Pakistani bowling attack in this high-stakes Asia Cup clash.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/asia-cup-2025-kamindu-mendis-slams-half-century-against-pakistan/story
