Mohammed Nabi heroics take Afghanistan from 79-6 to 169-run total
Kusal Mendis' unbeaten fifty helps Sri Lanka breach target with ease
Bangladesh join Sri Lanka in Asia Cup Super Fours stage
Opener Kusal Mendis sped away to an unbeaten 52-ball 74 as Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in their last Group B match to qualify for Asia Cup Super Fours stage along with Bangladesh, in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (September 18, 2025). The result meant Rashid Khan's men were knocked out of the tournament.
Batting first, Afghanistan rode on Mohammed Nabi's 22-ball 60, which included five consecutive sixes and the country's joint-fastest fifty alongside Azmatullah Omarzai, to post 169 for eight. But Mendis produced a masterclass to guide Sri Lanka past the tricky target of 170 with eight balls to spare.
The Afghanistan bowlers made some important breakthroughs to peg Sri Lanka back in their chase, but Mendis had other plans and the batter got support from Kusal Perera (28) and Kamindu Mendis (26 not out).
Earlier in the evening, Nuwan Thushara was the most successful bowler for Sri Lanka, returning figures of 4/18.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan had won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka. The Afghans lost three wickets inside the powerplay. This early collapse undermined the momentum generated in the first two overs that had yielded 26 runs.
The intent, which was missing in the last game, was present; however, Afghanistan batters struggled to counter the moving ball.
Sri Lankan bowler Thushara produced late swing with his slingy action. He first bowled an away swinger to right-hander Karim Janat (scoring 1) before a similar delivery dislodged the stumps of dangerous left-hander Sediqullah Atal (18 off 14). Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell early after mistiming a wild slog that was caught at a wide slip.
In the middle overs, bowlers Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga kept up relentless pressure, as wickets tumbled and Afghanistan were reduced to 79 for six in the 13th over.
Courtesy of skipper Rashid Khan (24 off 23) and his 35-run seventh-wicket partnership with Nabi, the team managed to cross the 140-run mark. Rashid’s quickfire included a no-look six in the cow corner—a shot that now features regularly in his playbook.
Nabi then smashed Dushmantha Chameera for three successive fours in the penultimate over that went for 17 runs. Chameera proved expensive on the night, leaking as many as 50 runs in his four overs. Adding to the narrative, Sri Lanka’s fielding was exceptional, with catches by Chameera and Kusal Perera helping dismiss Ibrahim Zadran (24) and Darwish Rasooli.
Sri Lanka Vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2025: Playing XIs
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
Sri Lanka Vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2025: Squads
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
(With PTI inputs)
