Sri Lanka Crush Afghanistan by 6 Wickets! Kusal Mendis Stars as Asia Cup 2025 Super Four Line-Up Takes Shape.

SL vs AFG, Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka Win by 6 Wickets in Abu Dhabi.

SL vs AFG Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka Win by 6 Wickets in Abu Dhabi

Sri Lanka produced a composed six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Match 11 of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 18, 2025.

The result was decisive for both teams. Sri Lanka maintained their perfect Group B record and secured top spot, while Afghanistan's campaign came to an end despite a sensational counter-attacking innings from veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

After Afghanistan recovered from a disastrous 20/3 to post 169/7, Sri Lanka chased down the target in just 18.4 overs, finishing on 172/4.

Kusal Mendis was the architect of the successful chase, producing an outstanding 74 off 52 balls, while Nuwan Thushara's excellent 3/28 helped Sri Lanka control Afghanistan's innings.

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Afghanistan's Innings: From Disaster to Nabi's Heroics

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first on a surface that appeared capable of producing runs.

However, their innings immediately descended into trouble.

Early Wickets Put Afghanistan Under Pressure

Nuwan Thushara made an immediate impact with the new ball.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a golden duck after edging a delivery through to the wicketkeeper. Dushmantha Chameera then joined the attack and removed Sediqullah Atal, leaving Afghanistan struggling early.

Dunith Wellalage added further pressure by dismissing Ibrahim Zadran LBW.

At 20/3 after four overs, Afghanistan were in serious trouble.

Sri Lanka's bowlers had executed their plans effectively, keeping the scoring rate under control and forcing Afghanistan's top order into mistakes.

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Mohammad Nabi Launches a Stunning Counter-Attack

With Afghanistan in danger of being bowled out cheaply, Mohammad Nabi walked in and completely changed the momentum.

The experienced all-rounder initially played cautiously, rotating the strike before launching an extraordinary assault on Sri Lanka's bowlers.

Chameera was targeted first, with Nabi smashing a huge six over long-on before following it with a boundary through cover.

Darwish Rasooli supported him intelligently, and the pair added a valuable fourth-wicket partnership.

When Rasooli departed for 22, Nabi continued his attack alongside Azmatullah Omarzai.

The veteran reached his half-century from just 18 balls, combining powerful hitting with excellent shot selection.

Nabi eventually finished with a remarkable:

60 off 22 balls – 5 fours and 4 sixes.

His innings transformed Afghanistan from a side facing a possible collapse into one capable of posting a competitive total.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Highlights, Asia Cup 2025: SL Beat AFG by 6 Wickets in Abu Dhabi.

Introduction: A High-Stakes Clash in the Desert

                    On September 18, 2025, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi became the stage for a thrilling showdown between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Match 11 of the Asia Cup 2025.

            This wasn’t just another group-stage game; it was a do-or-die battle for a spot in the Super Fours from Group B. With Sri Lanka holding a perfect record of four points from two wins and Afghanistan desperate for a victory to keep their tournament hopes alive, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Bangladesh, the third team in the group, watched anxiously from the sidelines, their fate intertwined with the outcome of this match.

The toss fell in favor of Afghanistan’s captain, Rashid Khan, who opted to bat first on a fresh pitch that promised runs but also hinted at assistance for spinners later. “It’s a good surface, and we want to put runs on the board,” Rashid declared, his eyes betraying the weight of the moment. Sri Lanka’s skipper, Charith Asalanka, admitted he too would have batted, setting the tone for a high-scoring affair.

The teams lined up with intent: Sri Lanka fielded a balanced side with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (w), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, and Nuwan Thushara. Afghanistan countered with Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

What unfolded was a tale of two innings: Afghanistan’s dramatic collapse and resurrection, powered by Mohammad Nabi’s blistering 60 off 22 balls, and Sri Lanka’s composed chase, anchored by Kusal Mendis’ masterful 74 off 52 balls. The result—a six-wicket win for Sri Lanka in 18.4 overs—not only secured their top spot in Group B but also propelled Bangladesh into the Super Fours, leaving Afghanistan heartbroken and eliminated.

Afghanistan’s Innings: A Collapse and Nabi’s Heroics
Early Wickets: Sri Lanka’s Bowlers Strike Hard

Afghanistan’s innings began with promise but quickly descended into chaos. Nuwan Thushara, Sri Lanka’s slingy pacer, opened the attack with a probing line. His first over was a masterclass in swing bowling, and it paid dividends immediately. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s explosive opener, was undone by a late outswinger that kissed the edge of his bat, sending the ball into Dushmantha Chameera’s safe hands at wide slip. Gurbaz departed for a golden duck, and Afghanistan were 0 for 1 in the first over.

Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran attempted to steady the ship, but the pressure was relentless. Thushara’s partner-in-crime, Chameera, bowled with venom, targeting the stumps with pace and precision. In the third over, Atal’s tentative prod resulted in a thick edge to Kusal Mendis behind the stumps, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 12 for 2. Zadran, usually a calm presence, struggled to rotate the strike against Dunith Wellalage’s left-arm spin, introduced early to exploit the new ball’s grip. Wellalage struck in his first over, trapping Zadran lbw for 8 off 12 balls after a skidding delivery beat his sweep. At 20 for 3 after 4 overs, Afghanistan were in dire straits.

The Nabi Show: A Counterattack for the Ages

Enter Mohammad Nabi, the veteran all-rounder whose experience and power-hitting have bailed Afghanistan out of countless crises. Promoted to No. 4, Nabi walked in with a point to prove. His approach was clear: respect the good balls, punish the bad ones. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, sensing blood, kept the pressure on, but Nabi was unfazed. He started cautiously, nudging singles off Wanindu Hasaranga’s leg-spin, but the floodgates opened in the seventh over against Chameera.

Chameera, attempting a slower ball, was dispatched over long-on for a massive six, Nabi’s first boundary. The next ball, a full toss, was hammered through cover for four. Nabi’s intent was contagious, and Darwish Rasooli, at the other end, fed off his energy, playing second fiddle with gritty determination. The pair added 45 runs for the fourth wicket, taking Afghanistan to 65 for 3 at the halfway mark.

Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s trump card, returned to break the partnership. Rasooli, attempting an ambitious lofted cover drive, miscued to long-off, where Pathum Nissanka held a sharp catch. Rasooli’s 22 off 18 was a decent cameo, but Afghanistan needed more. At 70 for 4 in the 11th over, the innings was at a crossroads.

Nabi, however, was just getting started. With Azmatullah Omarzai for company, he unleashed a barrage of boundaries. Kamindu Mendis’ part-time spin was carted for 18 runs in an over, including two sixes—one a lofted cover drive, the other a monstrous hit over midwicket. Nabi reached his fifty off just 18 balls, a knock that combined brute force with surgical precision. Omarzai chipped in with a quickfire 15 before falling to Thushara’s slower yorker, caught at deep point.

Nabi’s blitz continued, targeting the death overs with ruthless efficiency. Asalanka’s decision to bowl himself backfired as Nabi smashed two consecutive fours in the 17th over. Even Hasaranga, usually so reliable, was taken for a six over long-on. Nabi’s 60 off 22 balls—comprising five fours and four sixes—ended when he holed out to long-off off Chameera in the 19th over, but not before dragging Afghanistan to a competitive 169 for 7.

The Tail’s Contribution and Sri Lanka’s Bowling Effort

Karim Janat (12 off 8) and Rashid Khan (10 off 7) provided late impetus, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightened the screws in the final overs. Thushara finished with 3 for 28, his variations proving too much for Afghanistan’s lower order. Chameera (2 for 34) and Wellalage (1 for 26) were disciplined, while Hasaranga’s 1 for 38 didn’t reflect his control in the middle overs. Afghanistan’s total, though respectable, felt 10-15 runs short on a batting-friendly surface.

Sri Lanka’s Chase: Mendis’ Mastery and a Clinical Finish
The Powerplay: Nissanka and Mendis Set the Tone

Chasing 170, Sri Lanka needed a solid start, and their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, delivered. Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan’s new-ball spearhead, started with swing but lacked control, leaking runs to Nissanka’s crisp drives. Mendis, the more aggressive of the two, took on Mujeeb Ur Rahman, lofting him for a six over cover in the second over. By the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka were 54 for 0, with Mendis on 28 off 18 and Nissanka on 22 off 18.

Rashid Khan, desperate for a breakthrough, brought himself on in the seventh over. His guile almost paid off as Nissanka misread a googly, but the ball fell just short of a diving Omarzai at short third man. Afghanistan’s fielding, usually electric, was sloppy, with misfields and a dropped chance off Mendis by Gurbaz behind the stumps costing them dearly.

The Middle Overs: Mendis Takes Charge

Nissanka’s luck ran out in the eighth over when Noor Ahmad’s sharp-turning leg-break had him stumped for 32 off 26. Sri Lanka were 68 for 1, and Afghanistan sensed an opening. Kamil Mishara, the young left-hander, joined Mendis, and the duo kept the scoreboard ticking. Mendis was in sublime touch, driving through the covers and lofting spinners with ease. His fifty came off 36 balls, a blend of caution and aggression that frustrated Rashid’s plans.

Mishara fell for 20 off 16, caught at long-on off Mujeeb, but Kusal Perera’s arrival injected fresh momentum. Perera, known for his fearless strokeplay, smashed Noor for a six over midwicket, signaling Sri Lanka’s intent to finish early. At 120 for 2 after 14 overs, the required rate was well under control, and Afghanistan’s spinners were running out of ideas.

The Final Push: Asalanka and Perera Seal the Deal

Rashid, refusing to go down without a fight, bowled a tight 16th over, conceding just four runs. But Mendis, undeterred, took on Omarzai in the 17th, smashing a six over long-off to bring the equation to 25 runs off 18 balls. Perera’s quickfire 28 off 14 ended when Farooqi yorked him in the 18th over, and Mendis fell for a match-defining 74 off 52, caught at deep midwicket off Janat. At 150 for 4, Sri Lanka needed 20 off 12 balls.

Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka, the captain and vice-captain, ensured no further hiccups. Asalanka’s cool-headed 12 not out off 8 balls, including a boundary through point, and Shanaka’s unbeaten 8 off 4 sealed the chase in 18.4 overs. Sri Lanka finished on 172 for 4, winning by six wickets with eight balls to spare.

Key Performances and Turning Points

Mohammad Nabi (60 off 22, 5x4, 4x6): Nabi’s explosive knock rescued Afghanistan from 20 for 3, giving them a fighting total. His ability to dominate both pace and spin was the innings’ defining feature.

Kusal Mendis (74 off 52, 6x4, 2x6): Mendis’ composed innings anchored Sri Lanka’s chase, ensuring they never lost control despite Afghanistan’s spin threat.

Nuwan Thushara (3 for 28): Thushara’s early breakthroughs set the tone for Sri Lanka’s dominance in the powerplay, putting Afghanistan on the back foot.

Turning Point: Nabi’s 18-run over against Kamindu Mendis shifted momentum in Afghanistan’s favor, but Mendis’ steady hand in the chase ensured Sri Lanka’s victory.

Impact on the Tournament: Super Four Line-Up Confirmed

Sri Lanka’s victory secured their top spot in Group B with six points and a healthy NRR, while Bangladesh, with two points, sneaked into the Super Fours thanks to Afghanistan’s elimination. Afghanistan, despite Nabi’s heroics, finished with two points and a negative NRR, ending their Asia Cup campaign. In Group A, Pakistan’s win over UAE the previous day confirmed their and India’s qualification, setting up a blockbuster Super Four stage with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Post-Match Reflections

Charith Asalanka, named Player of the Match for his leadership and finishing touch, praised his team’s composure: “Kusal [Mendis] played a fantastic knock, and our bowlers set it up early. We knew 170 was chaseable on this pitch.” Rashid Khan, gracious in defeat, lauded Nabi’s effort but rued the early collapse: “We fought back well, but losing three wickets in the powerplay hurt us. Credit to Sri Lanka for chasing so well.”

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium crowd, a vibrant mix of South Asian fans, erupted as Sri Lanka sealed the win, their cheers echoing into the Abu Dhabi night. For Afghanistan, it was a bitter pill, but their resilience, led by Nabi, showed why they remain a force in T20 cricket. For Sri Lanka, the victory was a statement of intent as they marched into the Super Fours with momentum.

Full Scorecard

Afghanistan Innings: 169/7 (20 overs)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 0 (1)

Sediqullah Atal: 7 (8)

Ibrahim Zadran: 8 (12)

Mohammad Nabi: 60 (22)

Darwish Rasooli: 22 (18)

Azmatullah Omarzai: 15 (10)

Karim Janat: 12 (8)

Rashid Khan: 10 (7)

Extras: 8

Bowling: Nuwan Thushara 3/28, Dushmantha Chameera 2/34, Dunith Wellalage 1/26, Wanindu Hasaranga 1/38

Sri Lanka Innings: 172/4 (18.4 overs)

Pathum Nissanka: 32 (26)

Kusal Mendis: 74 (52)

Kamil Mishara: 20 (16)

Kusal Perera: 28 (14)

Charith Asalanka: 12* (8)

Dasun Shanaka: 8* (4)

Extras: 6


Bowling: Fazalhaq Farooqi 1/30, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1/28, Noor Ahmad 1/35, Rashid Khan 0/29

This match, a rollercoaster of emotions, showcased T20 cricket at its finest—unpredictable, thrilling, and unforgiving. Sri Lanka’s clinical performance sent a warning to their Super Four rivals, while Afghanistan’s elimination served as a reminder of the fine margins in international cricket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won SL vs AFG in the Asia Cup 2025?

Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi.

What was Afghanistan's score?

Afghanistan scored 169/7 in 20 overs.

What was Sri Lanka's score?

Sri Lanka finished on 172/4 in 18.4 overs.

Who scored the most runs for Afghanistan?

Mohammad Nabi top-scored with a brilliant 60 off 22 balls.

Who was Sri Lanka's top scorer?

Kusal Mendis scored 74 runs from 52 deliveries.

How many wickets did Nuwan Thushara take?

Nuwan Thushara took 3 wickets for 28 runs.

How many wickets did Sri Lanka win by?

Sri Lanka won by six wickets, with eight balls remaining.

Did Afghanistan qualify for the Super Four?

No. According to the supplied article, Afghanistan were eliminated after the defeat.

Who qualified for the Super Four from Group B?

The supplied article states that Sri Lanka and Bangladesh progressed from Group B.

Where was SL vs AFG played?

The match was played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.