Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka Beat Afghanistan by 6 Wickets, Bangladesh Seal Super 4 Spot

The final league match of Group B of the Asia Cup 2025 was played between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka performed strongly and defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in this match. With this defeat, Afghanistan was eliminated from the Asia Cup 2025, while Bangladesh qualified for the Super 4.

Chasing the target of 170 runs, Sri Lanka did not have a good start. The team lost Pathum Nissanka at the score of 22. Wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis scored a brilliant half-century in the crucial match. He remained unbeaten on 74 runs off 52 balls, hitting 10 fours. Mendis received good support from Kusal Perera (28 runs off 20 balls), Charith Asalanka (17 runs off 12 balls), and Kamindu Mendis (26 runs off 13 balls). Sri Lanka scored 171 runs for 4 wickets in 18.4 overs.

Afghanistan is known for its bowling, especially its spin. In this match, the team's experienced spinners, Rashid Khan and Nabi, were economical but failed to take wickets. Nabi took 1 wicket for 20 runs in 3 overs. Rashid conceded 23 runs in 4 overs but failed to take a wicket. Noor Ahmed, Umarzai, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman took 1 wicket each.

Earlier, Afghanistan, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were in a very difficult situation. The team lost 6 wickets for 79 runs in 12.1 overs. Mohammad Nabi shared a 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Rashid Khan. Rashid was dismissed for 24 off 23 balls. When Rashid's wicket fell, Afghanistan's score was 114 for 7 in 17.1 overs. Nabi then took charge, scoring 17 runs in 19 overs. At the end of the 19 overs, Afghanistan's score was 137 for 7.

Dunith Vellaleg came in to bowl the 20th over. Nabi hit five consecutive sixes in this over. He reached his half-century in 20 balls. He was run out trying to take two runs off the last ball. The final over yielded 32 runs. Nabi played a memorable innings of 60 runs in 22 balls, hitting six sixes and three fours, taking Afghanistan's score to 169 for 8.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was out after scoring 14 runs and Sediqullah Atal was out after scoring 18 runs. Ibrahim Zadran scored 24 runs in 27 balls. Darvesh Rasooli was out after scoring 9 runs and Azmatullah Umarzai was out after scoring 6 runs. Noor Ahmed remained unbeaten after scoring 6 runs. Sri Lanka's right-arm fast bowler Nuwan Thushara broke the back of Afghanistan's batting. This 31-year-old bowler took 4 wickets for 18 runs in 4 overs. Thushara took the wickets of Gurbaz, Atal, Jannat and Rashid Khan.