Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup Match Highlights: Skipper, Kusal Mendis, smacked Mujeeb for two back-to-back fours in the 18th over to help Sri Lanka secure a comfortable victory over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. Mendis led his squad by example as the captain scored his 17th T20I half-century to book the squad’s place in the super fours.
Afghanistan fought hard to keep Sri Lanka away from victory; however, their efforts bore limited results. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi played some amazing cricket on Thursday as both these players made important contributions with both the bat and the ball for Afghanistan towards the end of the game. Kusal Mendis was named the player of the match for his amazing 72* off 52 balls.
Key Performers
Mohammad Nabi smashed 5 sixes in the last over of the game to help Afghanistan reach a respectable score of 169 towards the end of their inning. Nabi’s fearless batting towards the death overs was nothing short of a blessing for the Afghanistan side, as the batter helped the team go from 114/7 at the end of 17 overs to 169 at 20.
From Sri Lanka’s end, Thushara dealt most of the damage to Afghanistan’s batting line-up with the ball. Thushara was able to control the new ball with much ease as he stirred troubled the Afghanistan batters and picked up 3 important wickets by the end of the power play.
In the Asia Cup’s most tantalizing group-stage twist, Sri Lanka secured a comfortable victory over Afghanistan to book it’s spot in the Super4s. Despite their somewhat poor performances in the T20I matches leading up to the Asia Cup 2025, Sri Lanka has defied all expectations by making an unbeaten run to the Super4s. Many cricketing analysts predict that the players from the south of the Indian Ocean might just be set to face off against team India in an exciting final on September 28.
Teams
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Updates: Mendis is the player of the match
Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis was named the player of the match for his amazing 72* off 52 balls. With this victory, Sri Lanka booked its spot in the Super 4s stage of the tournament.
Mendis smacked Mujeeb for two back-to-back fours to help Sri Lanka secure a comfortable victory in the game. Mendis scored his 17th half-century to help his country book their spot in the Super 4s. The SL skipper scored an impressive 72* off 52 to help Sri Lanka march into the Super 4s without losing a single game this tournament. SL 171/4 (18.4)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: SL crosses 150!
SL skipper continues his form to smack AFG bowlers all over the field. Mendis seems to be in a hurry to win the game as he continues to unleash a brutal assault on Farooqi. Mendis scored 15 runs of Farooqi’s over which included one of the biggest sixes of the night. SL160/4 (18)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Mendis smashes Noor for the biggest six of the night
Mendis continues his assault on the Afghanistan bowlers. Noor attempted to trick the Mendis by pitching a slower delivery towards the batter’s pads; however, he seemed to have been one step ahead as the SL skipper shuffled his feet to create space and smashed Noor for the biggest six of the night. Noor conceded 17 runs in the over. SL 145/4 (17)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Rashid gets injured falls on the ground
In a moment that shook all Afghanistan fans enjoying the game to their core. A scurry on the field led the Afghanistan captain to slightly injure his back. Rashid Khan fell sharply to the ground after attempting a run-out out causing a stadium-wide scare. Rashid initially struggled to get back up after his tumble. However, a quick session with the on-ground Physio helped the captain finish his over. SL 128/4 (15)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Mendis reaches 50! Noor takes out Asalanka
Mendis sweeped Noor for a four over the leg side to smash his 17th T20I century for Sri Lanka. Mendis scored 51 of 41 balls to pile up some important runs for SL. Despite conceding this boundary, Noor wrapped up the over with a big wicket, as he took out Asalanka in the 2nd last ball of his over. Asalanka was not able to judge the delivery properly as he mistimed the ball into the air, only for it to be caught by Rashid Khan in amazing dive catch. SL 122/4 (14)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Asalanka continues his form
Asalanka continues to take the Afghanistan spinners head-on. The batter sliced a ball bowled by Nabi to score a similar four over square leg. Nabi conceded 10 runs in the over. SL 113/3 (13)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Asalanka smacks Rashid for a four to help SL reach 100
Asalanka played a brilliant shot to smack Rashid for a four over square leg to help SL cross the 100-run threshold. Rashid conceded 7 runs in the over. SL 103/3 (13)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Perera goes down after smacking Mujeed for a four
Mujeed picked up a crucial wicket to break an important partnership between Perera and Mendis. Mujeed bowled a wicked googly to take Perera by surprise. Perera was followed by Asalanka on the pitch. SL 96/3 (12)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Rashid returns to put pressure on SL
Afghanistan’s skipper Rashid Khan starts with the ball after the drinks break in an attempt to break the partnership between Mendis and Perera. Rashid conceded 6 runs in the over. SL 88/2 (11)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Mendis and Perera continue to rotate the strike
Mendis and Perera continue to rotate the strike to put pressure on the AFG bowlers. Perera wrapped up the over by smashing Mujeeb for a crackling one bounce four over to the offside. SL 82/2 (10)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Noor Ahmed bowls an expensive first over
Noor Ahmed bowled an expensive first over to provide some much-needed relief to the SL batters. Ahmed gave away 12 runs in the over. SL 72/2 (9)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Nabi and Rashid continue the spin attack
Nabi and Rashid continue their spin attack on the SL batters. Nabi bowled an impressive second over, as Mendis and Perera struggled to make runs off the over. SL 60/2 (8)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Khan corners Mendis
Rashid Khan bowls the most impressive first over, as he caught Mendis off guard twice during the spell, his last ball narrowly missed the stumps. Rashid conceded only four runs in the over. SL 57/2 (7)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Nabi strikes with the ball! Mishara goes down for 4
Mohammad Nabi comes through for Afghanistan once more, the leg spinner took his first wicket of the game by tricking Mishara into hitting a slower ball in the air. Mishara goes down for 4. Mishara is followed by Perera on the crease. SL 53/2 (6)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Mendis uses his wrists to put a boundary over the leg side
In a crackling display of first-class cricket, Mendis continues to smack AFG bowlers all over the field to add more runs to the scoreboard during the power play. SL 46/1 (5)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Mendis continues to capitalise on the power play
Mishara follows Nissanka on the crease. Farooqi gives away 5 extras in the over. Mendis continues his form to add more runs to the scoreboard in the power play. SL 38/1 (4)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Nissanka goes out for 6! AFG takes first wicket
Azmatullah bowls an impressive first over to land Afghanistan its first wicket of the game. SL opener Nissanka goes out for six towards the end of the third over. SL 24/1 (3)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Mendis continues his form
Mendis continues his form to score two quick boundaries over Mujeeb. Mujeeb conceded 11 runs in the over. SL 22/0 (2)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Pathum strikes the first ball of the 2nd inning for a four
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis open for Sri Lanka, Farooqi starts with the new ball. Nissanka opens the game with confidence as he struck Farooqi’s first ball of the inning for a crackling four over the off side. Mendis follows in Nissanka’s footsteps and plays a perfectly timed backfoot punch to nudge the ball for another four. SL 9/0 (1)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Nabi hits 3 consecutive sixes, AFG sets a target of 170!
Mohammad Nabi displayed pure fearless cricket in the last over to help Afghanistan cross 156 in the last spell of the game. Nabi smashed Wellalage for four back-to-back sixes, helping Afghanistan reach a respectable score towards the end of the over. With a dazzling display of a streak of power shots, Nabi became the Afghan batter to score the fastest half-century in their country’s T20I history as he reached 50 of just 20 balls. AFG 169/8 (20)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Nabi hits back-to-back fours
Mohammad Nabi smacks Chameera for back-to-back boundaries, making 12 runs off just the first three balls of the over. Nabi helps Afghanistan reach the final over with a more respectable score of 137. AFG 137/7 (19)
Afghanistan’s skipper goes out for 24 of 23 deliveries. Rashid played an impressive innings considering the circumstances. His bold strokes offered a glimmer of hope for the Afghan fans and also ignited the spark within Nabi, who also started playing more aggressively with his captain by his side. AFG 120/7 (18)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Chameera corners Rashid
Sri Lankan fast bowler Chameera continues to trouble the Afghan skipper. His oversaw a close call when Rashid Khan completely mistimed the shot, and the ball ended up hitting his first pad. The Sri Lankan team followed with a huge appeal, only to be turned down by the on-field umpire. AFG: 114/6 (17)
Hasaranga bowled an impressive spell to mark his last over of the game. Both Nabi and Rashid struggled to score a boundary in the over. Hasaranga only conceded 4 runs in the final over. AFG 105/6 (16)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Rashid Khan help AFG reach 100 with a six!
Rashid Khan slammed Shanaka for a huge six over the mid-wicket to help Afghanistan reach triple digits in what has been a fairly one-sided battle so far. Shanaka conceded 11 runs in the over. AFG 101/6 (15)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: AFG continues to struggle
Sri Lanka’s early strikes have given them the breathing room to tighten the screws. At drinks, Afghanistan are stuck at 63 for 3, scoring only a shade quicker than a run a ball.
The control has been so complete that even Dasun Shanaka — Sri Lanka’s fifth bowler and not usually a frontline option — has slipped in two tidy overs for just eight runs. For Afghanistan, the lack of boundaries is one issue, but the mounting tally of dot balls is the real frustration, leaving their innings short of momentum. AFG 69/4 (11)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: AFG find itself in a difficult position
Thushara, the powerplay hitman, strikes again! A career economy of 7.65 is already gold dust for a seamer bowling upfront, but it’s the wickets that set him apart — 20 games out of 25 this year, he’s found a way to break through.
Today, Afghanistan felt the full force. First, Gurbaz gone. Then Janat, undone in the same over. And when given a third shot, Thushara unleashed his trademark inswinger to rip out Sediqullah Atal’s stumps. Three overs, three wickets, just 12 runs. Afghanistan, once coasting at 26 for 0, suddenly staring at 40 for 3.
This is Thushara’s powerplay theatre: sling, swing and chaos. Rashid Khan’s team finds itself in a tough spot right now. After the end of 10 overs, AFG is 63/3.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Thushara is unstoppable!
Thushara’s purple patch only grew richer in the fifth over, as he delivered another telling blow to Afghanistan’s top order. Having already struck twice, the seamer produced a late in-ducker that demolished Sediq Atal’s stumps for 18, his third wicket inside the Powerplay.
With the ball tailing sharply both ways, Ibrahim Zadran and new man Darwish Rasooli could only survive nervously, while extras and nudged singles offered the visitors little relief. Thushara’s fiery spell left Afghanistan wobbling, their aggressive Powerplay gamble stifled and the innings teetering under early pressure. AFG 45/3 (6)
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Live Score: Thushara strikes twice in single over
Sri Lanka seized the early momentum thanks to a fiery burst from Nuwan Thushara. He started and ended his over with a wicket to leave Afghanistan wobbling. Gurbaz, after an aggressive start, fell to a clever slower ball that he sliced straight to short third.
Moments later, the promoted Karim Janat was undone by an absolute peach, a delivery that angled in before seaming away to rattle the top of off. Thushara wheeled away in celebration as Sri Lanka tightened their grip. Afghanistan’s gamble of sending Janat up the order backfiring spectacularly. AFG 32/2 (3)