Sri Lanka Crush Afghanistan by Six Wickets to Seal Super 4 Spot

Abu Dhabi, September 18, 2025 - Sri Lanka overcame a spirited Afghanistan side by six wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium to advance to the Asia Cup Super 4s, while Afghanistan’s campaign ended in disappointment.

Nut Graf Charith Asalanka’s unbeaten Sri Lankan unit chased down a competitive 170-run target with eight balls to spare, powered by Kusal Mendis’s 74* and Nuwan Thushara’s four-wicket haul, ensuring Sri Lanka’s undefeated run and Bangladesh’s qualification alongside them.

Toss and Teams

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to bat first on a slow Abu Dhabi surface.

Afghanistan Innings

Early collapse saw Afghanistan slump to 79/6, but Mohammad Nabi’s electrifying 60 off 22 balls, featuring five sixes in an over, propelled them to 169/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Rashid Khan contributed 24 before falling to Thushara, whose left-arm swing yielded 4/18 to dismantle the Afghan top order.

Sri Lanka Chase

Pathum Nissanka provided a brisk start, putting on a 52-run opening stand, before being dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai.
Kusal Mendis anchored the chase with an unbeaten 74 from 52 balls, striking 10 fours, and combined with Kamindu Mendis (26 off 13) to steady the innings.
Sri Lanka reached 171/4 in 18.4 overs, with the winning boundary coming off Mendis’s bat, as the hosts celebrated qualification and sent Afghanistan home.

Key Performers

Kusal Mendis (SL): 74* (52 balls)
Nuwan Thushara (SL): 4/18 (4 overs)
Mohammad Nabi (AFG): 60 (22 balls)
Rashid Khan (AFG): 24 (23 balls)

[Asia Cup 2025 SL vs AFG Highlights] [Live Match Preview]