Asia Cup 2025: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka — Yesterday’s Match Recap
By Rohan Mehra Introduction
Last night was do-or-die in Group B of the Asia Cup 2025 — Sri Lanka and Afghanistan clashed in Abu Dhabi, each with hopes of making the Super Four. Sri Lanka entered unbeaten and riding high, while Afghanistan needed a win to keep their campaign alive. In the end, it was Sri Lanka who delivered under pressure and edged past Afghanistan by 6 wickets — knocking them out of the tournament.
Match Details
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Venue | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Toss | Afghanistan won toss, elected to bat first |
| Afghanistan Innings | 169/8 in 20 overs |
| Sri Lanka Chase | 171/4 in 18.4 overs |
| Margin | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets (8 balls to spare) |
| Player of the Match | Kusal Mendis — unbeaten 74 off 52 balls |
Key Performers & Moments
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Mohammad Nabi lit up the Afghan innings with an explosive 60 off only 22 balls, including five sixes in the final over — a late burst that pushed their total into fighting range.
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Rashid Khan chipped in with 24, and Ibrahim Zadran also got 24 — but the rest of the batting couldn’t hold it together enough for the full 20 overs.
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For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis anchored the chase, playing with calm against spinners and finishing 74* to seal the match.
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Kusal Perera also provided solid support with 28 — helping to maintain momentum when wickets fell.
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Nuwan Thushara was the standout with the ball, conceding just 18 for 4 — incredibly economical in this high-stakes game.
Turning Points
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Nabi’s last over blitz made 32 off it, turning what seemed like a moderate total into something Afghanistan could defend.
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Sri Lanka got off to a shaky powerplay but steadily built partnerships; when the spinners came on, they balanced aggression with caution.
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The 17th over bowled by Noor Ahmad (which leaked 17 runs) was crucial — Sri Lanka swung momentum heavily in their favour there.
Read more: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong
Group B Implications
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Losses | Net Run Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 3 | 0 | +1.278 | Qualified for Super Four |
| Bangladesh | 3 | 2 | 1 | −0.27 | Also through to Super Four |
| Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | +1.241 (but irrelevant now) | Eliminated |
What This Means
Sri Lanka’s perfect record in the group stage continues — 3 wins from 3, showing both discipline and ability to finish under pressure. Bangladesh join them in the Super Four, while Afghanistan’s exciting moments (especially Nabi’s fireworks) weren’t enough to overcome the batsmen of Sri Lanka and the composure in the chase. Afghanistan are out, but they leave with flashes of their potential. Sri Lanka march on, always dangerous, especially with Mendis in form and bowlers who can hold tight when it counts.
With nerves steeled and brackets set, the Super Four promises even bigger clashes. Can Sri Lanka carry this momentum forward? And can Bangladesh step up as challengers? We’re in for some high drama.
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