Lanka Tops Group B And Eliminates Afghanistan

Sri Lanka has beaten Afghanistan in their final group game of the Asia Cup 2025. And with this win, they have not only qualified for the Super Four but have also knocked the Afghans out of this competition.

The Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan game was Match 11 of the 2025 ACC Asia Cup. The game was played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and saw Afghanistan win the toss and decide to bat first.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan: Sri Lanka Tops Group B And Eliminates Afghanistan

Afghanistan got off to a decent start to their inning. The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal made 26 runs in the first two overs before Gurbaz was dismissed in the third for 14 off eight. In the very same over, Karim Janat also got out after scoring one run. But still, the run rate was over 10.

Atal would also get out in the powerplay, the fifth over to be exact, as the Afghan score at the end of six overs would be 45/3.

By the 10th over, the run rate would come down to a crawl, to almost a run a ball. Darwish Rasooli would get out in the 11th over, Azmatullah Omarzai in the 12th, and Sediqullah Atal in the 13th, with the score being 79/6.

But then, a familiar saviour would come to the rescue of the Afghanistan innings, that being veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. He stabilised the inning, forming a solid partnership alongside Captain Rashid Khan for the next five overs. The two picked the run rate up.

When Rashid was dismissed on the 18th, the score was 114/7. This was right before Nabi would go berserk. In the 19th over, Afghanistan made 17 runs, of which Nabio made 15. But the 20th over would be the one to remember, as Mohammad Nabi hit five sixes in five deliveries before getting run out on the final ball of the inning. 

Pacer Nuwan Thushara was clearly the pick of the bowlers, having bowled a brilliant four-over spell of 4/18.

Afghanistan would end their innings at 169/8 as Nabi made 60 off 22. This, from what we have seen in other matches in this tournament, was about par for the first inning. Sri Lanka has been the second-best-performing team in the 2025 Asia Cup , so they still had a solid shot at winning this game.

After scoring almost 20 runs in the first two overs, opener Pathum Nissanka got out in the third for six. Kamil Mishara would also get out in the power play after making just four runs. Despite that, the Sri Lankan Lions scored 53 runs in six overs, thanks to a blistering start by Kusal Mendis, who was playing at 32 off 18 at this moment.

The third wicket partnership between Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera was worth 45 runs as the two batted for around six overs together. While Mendis took a more attacking role, Perera was the anchor before he got out in the 12th over for 28 off 20.

Now it was Kusal Mendis’ turn to play the anchor, while incoming batters scored quick runs. Captain Charith Asalanka made 17 off 12 before getting out, while Kamindu Mendis finished the game alongside Kusal, making 26 off 13.

Sri Lanka chased the target down in style, winning the match by six wickets and with eight balls to spare. For his brilliant inning of 74* off 52, Kusal Mendis was named the Player of the Match.

With the win in this Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan game, the Lankans have topped Group B with three wins in as many matches. Meanwhile, the Afghans have been knocked out of the competition, seeing this was their second loss in three group games.

Sri Lanka will face Bangladesh in the first Super Four match and will also face India and Pakistan in the next round of the Asia Cup 2025.

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