Sri Lanka Clinch Group B with Solid Win Over Afghanistan
On 18 September 2025, in a high-stakes Group B match of the Asia Cup T20 at Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by 6 wickets with 8 balls to spare. The clash proved crucial: Sri Lanka secured a perfect record in the group stage and advanced to the Super Four, while Afghanistan were knocked out of the tournament.
Match Scorecard
Afghanistan Innings: 169/8 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Sediqullah Atal | 18 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 138.46 | b N Thushara |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | 14 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 175.00 | c K Perera b N Thushara |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 24 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 88.89 | c D Chameera b N Thushara |
| Darwish Rasooli | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 | c K Perera b W Hasaranga |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 | c C Asalanka b D Shanaka |
| Karim Janat | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c K Mendis b N Thushara |
| Mohammad Nabi | 60* | 22 | 2 | 6 | 272.73 | run out |
| Rashid Khan (c) | 24 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 104.35 | b N Thushara |
| Noor Ahmad | 6* | 4 | 0 | 0 | 150.00 | not out |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | – | – | – | – | – | did not bat |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | – | – | – | – | – | did not bat |
Extras: 7 (b 1, lb 2, w 4, nb 0)
Total: 169/8 (20 overs)
Bowling Figures – Sri Lanka
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Best Figures |
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 18 | 4 | 4.50 | 4/18 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 50 | 0 | 12.50 | 0/50 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 18 | 1 | 4.50 | 1/18 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 4 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 | 1/29 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 49 | 0 | 12.25 | 0/49 |
Sri Lanka Innings: 171/4 (18.4 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
| Pathum Nissanka | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 | c A Omarzai b short fine |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | 74* | 52 | 10 | 0 | 142.31 | not out |
| Kamil Mishara | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 109.09 | c extra cover b M Nabi |
| Kusal Perera | 28 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 140.00 | c R Gurbaz b Mujeeb |
| Charith Asalanka (c) | 21 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 131.25 | c R Khan b N Ahmad |
| Kamindu Mendis | 26* | 13 | 1 | 2 | 200.00 | not out |
| Dasun Shanaka | – | – | – | – | – | did not bat |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | – | – | – | – | – | did not bat |
| Dunith Wellalage | – | – | – | – | – | did not bat |
| Dushmantha Chameera | – | – | – | – | – | did not bat |
| Nuwan Thushara | – | – | – | – | – | did not bat |
Extras: 4 (b 0, lb 2, w 2, nb 0)
Total: 171/4 (18.4 overs)
Bowling Figures – Afghanistan
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Best Figures |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 4 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 | 0/38 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 2.4 | 28 | 1 | 10.50 | 1/28 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 4 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 | 1/31 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 23 | 0 | 5.75 | 0/23 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 2 | 24 | 1 | 12.00 | 1/24 |
| Noor Ahmad | 2 | 27 | 1 | 13.50 | 1/27 |
Result: Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets (8 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Toss: Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first
Afghanistan’s Innings: A Roller-coaster Ride
Batting first under considerable pressure—since they needed a win to cling onto possible qualification—Afghanistan posted 169 for 8 in 20 overs.
Some key moments:
- Mohammad Nabi delivered an explosive cameo: 60 off 22 balls, including five sixes in the final over bowled by Dunith Wellalage. Nabi’s hitting gave Afghanistan a late surge, helping them recover from earlier setbacks.
- Ibrahim Zadran and Rashid Khan also contributed with 24 apiece.
- On Sri Lanka’s side, Nuwan Thushara was the standout bowler: figures of 4 for 18 in his 4 overs. He struck early and often, limiting Afghanistan’s top and middle order.
Thus, while Afghanistan had a thunderous finish in the last two overs (something like 49 runs came off the final two overs combined), much of the innings had been under the control of Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling.
Sri Lanka’s Chase: Controlled and Composed
Chasing 170 for victory, Sri Lanka managed 171/4 in 18.4 overs, showing composure and maturity under pressure.
Highlights:
- Kusal Mendis was the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 74 off 52 balls. His ability to handle spin (especially in the middle overs), rotate strike, and anchor the innings was crucial.
- Kusal Perera provided a timely knock of 28 off 18 balls, giving impetus when needed.
- Other useful contributions: Sri Lanka built partnerships in phases—Mendis linking up with others to keep the required run rate in check.
Key Turning Points
- Early Breakthroughs by Thushara
Thushara’s early wickets prevented Afghanistan from settling. Taking out opening batsmen and making inroads in the top order put Sri Lanka in a commanding position. - Final Over Fireworks by Nabi
Mohammad Nabi kept Afghanistan alive. The five sixes off Wellsalage in the final over dramatically boosted Afghanistan’s total, making the chase more challenging than it looked for much of their innings. - Sri Lanka’s Middle Overs Composure
After an early hiccup with wickets, Sri Lanka’s batters, particularly Mendis, stabilized the innings. The ability to negotiate spin, build partnerships, and not allow Afghanistan to claw back into the match was decisive.
Read Also : Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Match Highlights
Statistical Nuggets & Performance Insights
- Sri Lanka remained undefeated in the group stage, heading into the Super Four with strong momentum.
- Afghanistan, despite flashes of brilliance (especially Nabi’s late surge), couldn’t overcome the pressure of needing a win and the damage done by Sri Lanka’s bowlers in the earlier overs.
- The match illustrated the significance of endings—even the last over in a batting innings, or a problematic over in a chase—can change momentum substantially.
Implications for the Tournament
- Sri Lanka qualified for the Super Four stage, topping Group B. The win showed their all-round capacity, balancing bowling strength with batting depth.
- Bangladesh also progressed from Group B as the second-placed team. Afghanistan were eliminated, despite their competitive showings in parts of their matches.
What Could Afghanistan Have Done Better?
- Stronger Top-Order Performance: Early losses made the rebuild harder. While Nabi’s heroics almost got them over the line, the damage was done.
- Earlier Momentum: If they had got a start earlier in the innings (better partnerships in middle overs), the final overs could have been about accelerating, not just salvaging.
- Fielding / Tight Bowling in Middle Overs: Sri Lanka’s strategy to choke dot balls and slow scoring (especially spin phases) limited Afghanistan’s scoring opportunities.
Conclusion
This match was a classic example of T20 cricket’s unpredictability. Afghanistan came close—thanks to a blistering late over from Nabi—but Sri Lanka’s overall consistency and composure carried them through. The match had everything: pressure situations, explosive power-hitting, tight bowling, and smart chase tactics.
For Sri Lanka, the victory reinforced their credentials in the Asia Cup. For Afghanistan, while their tournament ended here, performances like Nabi’s remind us they have players who can change the game in a matter of a few deliveries.
