Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2025 result highlights

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka clinched a six-wicket win in Abu Dhabi, knocking Afghanistan out as Kusal Mendis shined. Sri Lanka ended Afghanistan’s Asia Cup 2025 journey with a commanding six-wicket victory in Abu Dhabi. The result secured Sri Lanka’s place at the top of Group B, while Afghanistan bowed out of the tournament at the group stage despite being semifinalists at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka’s Confident Run Chase

Chasing 170, Sri Lanka reached 171-4 with more than an over to spare. Opener Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with an unbeaten 74 off 52 balls, using clever sweep shots to counter Afghanistan’s spin attack. He found strong support from Kusal Perera (28) and later Kamindu Mendis, who finished the match with an aggressive 26 not out.

Captain Charith Asalanka chipped in with 17 off 12 balls before departing, but Sri Lanka never looked under pressure during the chase. Afghanistan’s bowlers, including Rashid Khan (0-23) and Noor Ahmad (1-37), struggled to break through in the middle overs.

Afghanistan’s Batting Highlight: Nabi’s Late Fireworks

Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan posted 169-8. Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was the standout, smashing 60 runs off just 22 balls, including five towering sixes in the final over against Dunith Wellalage.

Before Nabi’s late assault, Afghanistan’s innings had been derailed by Nuwan Thushara, who delivered a fiery spell of 4-18. His early inswingers rattled the top order, dismissing Sediqullah Atal (18) and Karim Jannat (1). Ibrahim Zadran added a cautious 24 off 27 balls, but the middle order faltered.

Sri Lanka’s Sharp Fielding Makes the Difference

Sri Lanka backed up their bowling with brilliant fielding. Kusal Perera pulled off two excellent catches — one to remove Rahmanullah Gurbaz and another juggling effort on the boundary to dismiss Darwish Rasooli. These moments ensured Afghanistan never fully recovered until Nabi’s late fireworks.

Despite the last-over onslaught, Sri Lanka’s captain Asalanka praised his team’s all-round effort, saying:

“It was almost a perfect game for us. The pacers did their job brilliantly, and apart from the final over, we kept control throughout.”

Afghanistan Exit Early: Rashid Khan Reflects

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan admitted his team fell short with both bat and ball, saying they “did not bowl as well as expected” and failed to chase totals in earlier games. Reflecting on the disappointment, he added:

“We had high expectations after reaching the T20 World Cup semifinals last year. This result hurts, but we will analyse and come back stronger.”

What’s Next in Asia Cup 2025?

Sri Lanka’s third straight win means they enter the Super 4 stage in strong form, alongside Bangladesh, who also progressed from Group B. With Pakistan and India advancing from the other group, fans can expect high-intensity clashes in the coming rounds.

For Afghanistan, this early exit is a setback, but their fighting spirit — especially Nabi’s explosive innings — showed they still have the firepower to challenge the best in world cricket.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan.