Sri Lanka defeat Afghanistan to reach Asia Cup Super 4 stage

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Photo:AP

Sri Lanka powered their way into the Super Four of the Asia Cup with a commanding six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. The win was Sri Lanka’s third in a row in the group stage, making them the top team in Group B. Bangladesh also secured their place in the next round with two wins, while Afghanistan, the semifinalist of the 2024 T20 World Cup, were knocked out of the tournament after another disappointing performance.

Afghanistan’s Struggles with the Bat

Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan chose to bat first after winning the toss, hoping to put pressure on Sri Lanka with a solid score. However, Sri Lanka’s fast bowler Nuwan Thushara tore through their top order with a fiery spell. Thushara took four wickets for just 18 runs, including two beautiful inswing deliveries that bowled out Sediqullah Atal and Karim Jannat.

Afghanistan’s batting looked shaky, and runs were hard to come by. Opener Ibrahim Zadran struggled to find rhythm, scoring only 24 runs from 27 balls. Star batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught brilliantly by Kusal Perera, while Darwish Rasooli also fell to Perera’s sharp fielding on the boundary. By the 17th over, Afghanistan were reeling at 114 for 7.

It looked like Afghanistan would end with a below-par score until veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi stepped up. Nabi produced an extraordinary late assault, smashing five sixes in a single over against spinner Dunith Wellalage. His unbeaten 60 from just 22 balls brought life to the Afghan innings and pushed their total to 169 for 8. Nabi’s hitting gave Afghanistan hope, but it wasn’t enough against Sri Lanka’s disciplined chase.

Sri Lanka’s Confident Chase

Chasing 170 runs, Sri Lanka’s opening pair started cautiously. Afghanistan’s bowlers tried to build pressure, and Nabi struck early by dismissing Kamil Mishra. But that was the only bright moment for Afghanistan’s bowlers.

Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka’s experienced batter, anchored the chase with an unbeaten 74 runs off 52 balls. His smart sweep shots and calm approach kept Afghanistan’s spin attack under control. Even Rashid Khan, known for his wicket-taking ability, finished with figures of 0 for 23 in his four overs, unable to trouble Mendis.

Mendis got support from Kusal Perera, who made 28, and later from captain Charith Asalanka (17) and Kamindu Mendis, who stayed not out on 26. Together, they built partnerships that ensured Sri Lanka stayed ahead of the required run rate.

Afghanistan’s bowlers, including Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi, struggled to contain the runs in the final overs. Sri Lanka completed the chase with more than an over to spare, finishing at 171 for 4.

Reactions After the Match

Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka praised his team’s all-round effort:

“I am really pleased with the performance today. It was almost a perfect game for us. Our pacers did their job brilliantly at the start. The only time we slipped was in the last over, but overall we were excellent.”

On the other side, Afghanistan’s skipper Rashid Khan admitted his team underperformed:

“We did not bowl as well as we should have, and that is why we did not win. We had chances in the last match against Bangladesh too, but failed to chase 150. The expectations were high after reaching the semifinals of the last T20 World Cup. We will learn from this and come back stronger.”

Importance of the Result

This result means Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the two teams advancing from Group B to the Super Four stage. Afghanistan, despite having some of the best T20 players in the world, end their Asia Cup campaign with disappointment. The team will now return home to reassess their strategies ahead of future international matches.

Sri Lanka’s perfect run in the group stage has sent a strong message to other teams in the tournament. Their batting depth, sharp fielding, and the return of fast bowling strength show that they are serious contenders for the Asia Cup trophy.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2025