Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka secured a crucial victory against Afghanistan in their final league match of the Asia Cup 2025, winning by six wickets at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. This match was essential for Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, but their inability to perform effectively with the ball led to their defeat. Despite facing intense pressure at one point, opener Kusal Mendis demonstrated composure to guide Sri Lanka to victory, ensuring their position as the group leader in Group B.
Afghanistan’s innings began poorly, with openers Sediqullah Atal and Rahmanullah Gurbaz failing to make a significant impact as wickets fell at regular intervals. The team found themselves struggling at 79 for 6 at one stage, signaling potential elimination from the tournament. However, senior all-rounder Mohmmad Nabi made a significant difference, scoring an explosive 60 runs off just 22 balls, reviving Afghanistan’s hopes in the match.
Nabi’s half-century was remarkable, marking the joint-fastest in Asia Cup history, equaling Azmatullah Omarzai’s record of 50 runs in 20 balls against Hong Kong. Thanks to Nabi’s innings, Afghanistan posted a total of 169 runs, which they deemed defendable. Nuwan Thushara stood out for Sri Lanka, claiming four wickets in the match.
In the chase, Sri Lanka experienced an early setback with the dismissal of in-form batsman Pathum Nissanka for just six runs. Nevertheless, Kusal Mendis’s steady and mature performance saw him remain unbeaten with 74 runs off 52 balls, leading Sri Lanka to victory. Afghanistan’s bowlers, particularly mystery spinner Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi, struggled significantly, contributing to their team’s downfall. Additionally, questions arose regarding the match captaincy, especially concerning the decision to not bring back Azmatullah Omarzai, who had conceded only 10 runs in two overs, and the limited use of Nabi in the bowling attack.
