Match Overview
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team match scorecard from the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 showcases an exciting Group B encounter played on September 18, 2025, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. This was the 11th match of the tournament, a night game that delivered thrilling cricket action under lights.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that seemed promising initially. However, Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, led by the exceptional Nuwan Thushara, restricted Afghanistan to 169/8 in their 20 overs. In response, Sri Lanka chased down the target comfortably, reaching 171/4 in just 18.4 overs to win by 6 wickets with 8 balls to spare.
Kusal Mendis was named Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten innings of 74 runs off 52 balls, anchoring the chase brilliantly. The victory earned Sri Lanka 2 crucial points in the Asia Cup standings, while Afghanistan remained winless in this encounter.
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz † | c Perera b Thushara | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 175.00 |
| Sediqullah Atal | b Thushara | 18 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 128.57 |
| Karim Janat | b Thushara | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | c Chameera b Wellalage | 24 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 88.88 |
| Darwish Rasooli | c Perera b Chameera | 9 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 56.25 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | b Shanaka | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi | run out (Perera/†BKG Mendis) | 60 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 272.72 |
| Rashid Khan (c) | b Thushara | 24 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 104.34 |
| Noor Ahmad | not out | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 7 | |||||
| Total | 169/8 | 20.0 |
Sri Lanka Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 4.50 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 12.50 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 12.25 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 4.50 |
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mujeeb Ur Rahman b Azmatullah Omarzai | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Kusal Mendis † | not out | 74 | 52 | 10 | 0 | 142.30 |
| Kamil Mishara | c Ibrahim Zadran b Mohammad Nabi | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Kusal Perera | c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 28 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Charith Asalanka (c) | c Rashid Khan b Noor Ahmad | 17 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 141.66 |
| Kamindu Mendis | not out | 26 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 200.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dunith Wellalage | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dushmantha Chameera | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nuwan Thushara | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 16 | |||||
| Total | 171/4 | 18.4 |
Afghanistan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.66 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 3.4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 11.45 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 5.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 6.66 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 5.75 |
| Noor Ahmad | 3 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 12.33 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
Top Batting Performance
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) delivered a masterclass in T20 batting with an unbeaten 74 runs off 52 balls. His innings included 10 boundaries and was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s successful chase. Mendis played with remarkable composure, rotating the strike effectively and accelerating when needed. His strike rate of 142.30 demonstrated perfect T20 batting temperament.
Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) was the standout performer for Afghanistan with a explosive 60 runs off just 22 balls. His innings featured 3 fours and 6 sixes, giving him an incredible strike rate of 272.72. Nabi’s cameo came at a crucial time when Afghanistan needed momentum, and he delivered with authority.
Top Bowling Performance
Nuwan Thushara (Sri Lanka) was the destroyer with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for just 18 runs in his 4-over spell. His economy rate of 4.50 was exceptional in T20 cricket, and he broke crucial partnerships at regular intervals. Thushara’s ability to extract movement and maintain tight lines made him unplayable at times.
Wanindu Hasaranga also deserves mention for his economical spell of 4-0-18-0, providing crucial control in the middle overs and building pressure that Thushara exploited.
Turning Point of the Match
The turning point came during Afghanistan’s innings when Nuwan Thushara triggered a middle-order collapse. After Mohammad Nabi’s explosive batting had taken Afghanistan to a competitive total, Thushara’s four-wicket burst in the death overs restricted Afghanistan to a chaseable target. His dismissal of Rashid Khan (24) in the 19th over was particularly crucial, preventing a late surge.
Records and Milestones
- Mohammad Nabi’s strike rate of 272.72 was one of the highest in Asia Cup 2025
- Nuwan Thushara’s 4-wicket haul was his best T20I performance in the tournament
- Kusal Mendis became the first Sri Lankan keeper-batter to score an unbeaten 70+ in Asia Cup T20 cricket
- Sri Lanka chased down the target with 8 balls remaining, showcasing their batting depth
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | Sri Lanka Wins | Afghanistan Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| ODI | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Test | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 17 | 7 | 1 |
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2025 match? A: Sri Lanka won the match by 6 wickets with 8 balls remaining. They successfully chased down Afghanistan’s total of 169/8, reaching 171/4 in 18.4 overs.
Q: Who was named Player of the Match? A: Kusal Mendis from Sri Lanka was named Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten innings of 74 runs off 52 balls, which anchored Sri Lanka’s successful chase.
Q: What was the final match result and score? A: Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets. Afghanistan scored 169/8 in 20 overs, and Sri Lanka chased it down scoring 171/4 in 18.4 overs at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Q: When and where was this match played? A: The match was played on September 18, 2025, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. It was the 11th match of Group B in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 tournament.
Q: What is the current series score in Asia Cup 2025? A: This was a group stage match in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025. Sri Lanka earned 2 points from this victory, while Afghanistan received 0 points. The tournament featured multiple teams competing in group stages followed by Super Four and knockout rounds.
Q: Who were the top scorers for both teams? A: For Afghanistan, Mohammad Nabi top-scored with 60 runs off 22 balls. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis was the highest scorer with an unbeaten 74 runs off 52 balls.
Q: Who took the most wickets in the match? A: Nuwan Thushara from Sri Lanka took the most wickets with figures of 4/18 in 4 overs. For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the most successful bowler with 1 wicket for 42 runs.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team match scorecard from Asia Cup 2025 highlighted Sri Lanka’s dominance in T20 cricket against Afghanistan. With a comprehensive 6-wicket victory, Sri Lanka demonstrated their batting depth and bowling prowess. Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 74 and Nuwan Thushara’s devastating 4-wicket haul were the difference-makers in this crucial group stage encounter.
Sri Lanka’s next match in the Asia Cup would determine their progression to the Super Four stage, while Afghanistan needed to regroup for their remaining fixtures. This victory strengthened Sri Lanka’s position in Group B and showcased their credentials as strong contenders for the Asia Cup title.