Sri Lanka Vs Afghanistan Highlights, T20 Asia Cup: Lankans Breeze Into Super Fours; AFG Knocked Out

Greetings and welcome to everyone joining us for another fascinating Asia Cup fixture. At stake are spots in the Super Four, and Bangladesh, who have completed their group-stage commitments, would be watching the game with keen interest. Track the build-up, toss, playing XIs and live updates with us.

Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Sharafuddin Ashraf

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana

The first ball will be bowled at 8pm IST, with the toss at 7:30pm IST. The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2025 group B match will be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website in India. It will be televised live on the Sony Sports Network TV channels in the country.

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have clashed eight times before in T20 internationals, with the Lankans leading the head-to-head record 5-3. Just like the head-to-head record, Google’s prediction tilts slightly in Sri Lanka’s favour. SL have been handed a 57% win probability, while Afghanistan sit at 43%.

An injury blow to Naveen-ul-Haq has reduced Afghanistan's seam bowling options. This increases their reliance on leaders Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi, as well as influential batters such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Check out the three key battles from the SL vs AFG clash that will play a major role in deciding the outcome of the match.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara

Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

India, who face Oman tomorrow, will most likely finish on top of Group A, and they have already booked a Super Fours spot alongside arch-rivals Pakistan. The situation is not so straightforward in Group B, however, which has a three-way tussle for Super Fours between Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Check out the updated points table before the start of the SL vs AFG clash.

The two teams are out for the national anthems, and live action will get underway. Before that, let's take a look at the weather and pitch conditions in Abu Dhabi for the match.

Nuwan Thushara, the slingy-arm Sri Lanka seamer, has the ball in hand. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is on strike for Afghanistan and the in-form Sediqullah Atal alongside him.

Gurbaz gets going with a couple of lofted drives over extra cover, while Atal keeps out a hopping yorker off the last ball. Eight runs off the over.

AFG 8/0 (1)

It has been quite an eventful first four overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal make an aggressive start, smashing 26 runs off the first two overs. Nuwan Thushara then sends back Gurbaz and No. 3 Karim Janat in the same over to peg the Afghans back.

But Atal continues unfettered, as if making clear that their approach in powerplay won't change even with loss of quick wickets. Ibrahim Zadran has joined him at the crease.

AFG 37/2 (4)

Nuwan Thushara is on fire! He gets rid of Sediqullah Atal in the fifth over with a full, swinging delivery that cannons in from outside off. The furniture is disturbed and Afghanistan are now in a bit of trouble. Onus on Zadran and Darwish Rasooli to rescue them.

AFG 47/3 (7)

Ibrahim Zadran is key for the Afghans as they look to build up momentum in the middle-overs against Sri Lanka. The run-rate is slowed down to 6.3 RPO and will need some big hits if they are to get towards a big score.

AFG 63/3 (10)

Afghanistan are in a disarray and how! The Rashid Khan-led side are six down and have yet to reach the triple-figure mark. SL bowlers are all over the AFG batters and could see more dismissals unless the latter up their game.

AFG 86-6 (13)

Rashid Khan has unfurled a series of no-look shots to dazzle the crowd and unsettle the Lankan bowling a bit. The experienced Mohammad Nabi is alongside him, the onus is on this duo to take Afghanistan past at least 140, to stand a fighting chance of victory.

AFG 114/6 (17)

What an incredible finish from Mohammad Nabi and Afghanistan! Rashid Khan's dismissal makes many think that the firepower is gone, but boy, did Nabi prove that wrong. The 40-year-old smashes five straight sixes off Dunith Wellalage in the last over to race to a 20-ball fifty and power the Afghans to a very competitive total of 169 runs. The Lankans are stunned and momentum is now firmly with the Afghans.

AFG 169/8 (20)

The players are back for the second innings. Fazalhaq Farooqi takes the new ball and Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka welcomes him with a boundary, even if off the outside edge. Kusal Mendis also dispatches one over the point fielder as the Lankans seem to be batting with an urgency, even though they only need 101 runs or more to qualify.

SL 9/0 (1)

Azmatullah Omarzai strikes with his second ball, and it's the dangerman Pathum Nissanka. The Lankan opener cannot believe it as he hits a short delivery down the leg side straight to short fine leg. 

Kusal Mendis continues unruffled from the other end, and the new batter is Kamil Mishara. Remember that a win is all Afghanistan need to qualify and knock out Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka just need to cross the 101-run mark.

SL 38/1 (4)

Mohammad Nabi can do no wrong today! After a blistering, game-changing knock, he shines with the ball, dismissing Kamil Mishara to peg Sri Lanka back. Kusal Perera now at the crease alongside Mendis and the trademark Afghan spin squeeze has begun, led by skipper Rashid Khan.

SL 60/2 (8)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman breaks a developing 45-run partnership at a crucial moment to bring Afghanistan back in the game. He induces an outside edge off Kusal Perera's bat, which is snapped up smartly by 'keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Captain Charith Asalanka now joins Kusal Mendis, with the asking rate well over 9 an over.

SL 96/3 (12)

Sri Lanka have officially qualified for the Super Fours by going past the 101-run mark. It is now between Afghanistan and Bangladesh for the second spot from Group B. The Afghans need a win for that, and Rashid Khan has exhausted his four-over quota. Noor Ahmad will have a huge role to play in the back end, one reckons. SL need 42 runs from 24 balls.

SL 128/4 (16)

An absolute blinder from Kusal Mendis (74 not out off 52), as he hits the winning boundary to make light work of the target. Sri Lanka coast to victory in the 19th over, and Afghanistan are knocked out of Asia Cup. The result also means that Bangladesh join Sri Lanka from Group B in the Super Fours stage.

SL 171/4 (18.4 overs) beat AFG by six wickets

Sri Lanka finish on top of Group B with six points and three wins from three games. They will take on Bangladesh, who ended up second in the group with four points, in their opening Super Fours match on Saturday, September 20 in Dubai.

Kusal Mendis is deservedly named the Player of the Match for his fantastic unbeaten 74 off 52 balls. Here's what he said at the post-match presentation: "Very happy with my innings, supported really well by Kamindu and Kusal (Perera). Everyone supported me, I enjoyed my innings.

"The (Afghanistan) spinners are a little faster compared to other teams, very happy that we played really well today. Kamindu batted really well, hitting a couple of boundaries. Easier then to play my innings.

"[On the Super Fours] We have good games against three good teams. We have a good, balanced team. I hope we can do well."