By Admin 
Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan in the last league match of Group B of Asia Cup 2025. Sri Lanka won the match by 6 wickets on the basis of Kusal Mendis’s best half -century in the match played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Thursday. With the defeat, Afghanistan Asia Cup was ruled out of 2025.
Sri Lanka did not start well to chase a target of 170 runs. The team lost the wicket of Pathum Nisanka on a score of 22. In the crucial match, wicketkeeper batsman Kusal Mendis scored an excellent half -century. He remained unbeaten on 74 runs with the help of 10 fours off 52 balls. Mendis got good support from Kusal Perera (28 runs off 20 balls), Charith Asalanka (17 off 12 balls) and Kamindu Mendis (26 runs on 13 balls). Sri Lanka scored 171 runs for 4 wickets in 18.4 overs.
Afghanistan is known for its bowling, especially spin. In this match, the team’s veteran spinner Rashid Khan and the prophet were economical but did not succeed in taking wickets. Nabi took 1 wicket for 20 runs in 3 overs. Rashid conceded 23 runs in 4 overs, but could not take wickets. Noor Ahmed, Umarzai and Mujib ur Rehman got 1-1 wickets.
Earlier, after winning the toss, the situation in Afghanistan came out to bat first. 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 runs off 23 balls. When Rashid’s wicket fell, Afghanistan’s score was 7 wickets for 114 runs in 17.1 overs. After this, the prophet took over the front. Nabi scored 17 runs in 19 overs. After the end of 19 overs, Afghanistan’s score was 137 runs for 7 wickets.
Dunith Vellag came with the 20th over. The prophet hit 5 consecutive sixes in this over. During this, he completed his half -century on 20 balls. He was run out in an attempt to take two runs off the last ball. 32 runs were scored in the last over. Nabi played a memorable innings of 60 runs with the help of 6 sixes and 3 fours off 22 balls, Afghanistan’s score was brought to 169 for 8 wickets.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for 14 and Sedikullah Atal 18 runs. Ibrahim Jadaran scored 24 runs off 27 balls. Darvesh Rasuli 9 and Ajmatullah Umarzai were dismissed for 6 runs. Noor Ahmed remained unbeaten after scoring 6 runs.
Sri Lanka’s right -handed fast bowler Nuwan Tushara broke Afghanistan’s batting back. The 31 -year -old bowler took 4 wickets for 18 runs in 4 overs. Tushara took the wickets of Gurbaz, Atal, Jannat and Rashid Khan.