Image: Mohammad Nabi's blistering 60 powered Afghanistan to a 169/8 / © ESPNcricinfo
The Asia Cup 2025 Group B clash between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on September 18, 2025, at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium was a high-stakes T20 battle that kept everyone on edge. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat, hoping to set a challenging total to keep their tournament dreams alive. What followed was a tale of early struggles, a gritty middle-order fight, and a jaw-dropping finish from Mohammad Nabi. They ended at 169 for 8 in their 20 overs, giving Sri Lanka a target of 170 to chase for a spot atop the group. It wasn’t a straightforward path, but Nabi’s heroics made it a contest worth watching.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal opened the batting, tasked with laying a solid foundation. Gurbaz came out swinging, cracking two boundaries in a quick 14 off 8 balls, his strike rate a lively 175.00. But in the third over, Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thushara, with his pinpoint pace, got one to move away, and Gurbaz edged it to Kusal Perera behind the stumps. At 26 for 1, Afghanistan felt the early pinch. Karim Janat, sent in at number three, couldn’t find his footing, scratching out just 1 run off 3 balls before Thushara bowled him in the same over. By the end of the third over, Afghanistan were 32 for 2, and the pressure was mounting.
Atal tried to keep the scoreboard ticking, showing flair with two fours and a towering six in his 18 off 14 balls, striking at 128.57. But Thushara wasn’t done as he bowled Atal in the fifth over, leaving Afghanistan at 40 for 3. The top order was crumbling, and the middle order had to step up fast. Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli joined forces to steady things. Zadran played with care, scoring 24 off 27 balls, including one six, at a strike rate of 88.88. Rasooli, though, was cautious, managing 9 off 16 balls without a boundary, his strike rate a slow 56.25. Their 24-run stand gave some breathing room, but Rasooli fell in the 11th over, caught by Perera off Dushmantha Chameera’s bowling, making it 64 for 4.
Azmatullah Omarzai brought a flicker of hope, hitting a four in his 6 off 4 balls at a strike rate of 150.00, but Dasun Shanaka bowled him in the 12th over, leaving Afghanistan at 71 for 5. Zadran’s resistance ended soon after in the 13th over, caught by Chameera off Dunith Wellalage’s spin, with the score at 79 for 6. At this point, things looked grim, Sri Lanka’s bowlers were relentless, mixing pace and spin to choke the scoring. Afghanistan were staring at a total well below par.
Then came Mohammad Nabi, the veteran who turned the game on its head. Alongside captain Rashid Khan, he started to rebuild. Rashid played a steady hand, scoring 24 off 23 balls with two fours and a six, at a strike rate of 104.34. Their 35-run partnership for the seventh wicket was a lifeline. Rashid fell in the 18th over, bowled by Thushara, with the score at 114 for 7. But Nabi was just getting started. He went into overdrive, especially in the final over against Wellalage, smashing six massive sixes and three fours in his unbeaten 60 off 22 balls, a staggering strike rate of 272.72. His onslaught single-handedly lifted Afghanistan to a competitive total. A run-out on the last ball cut his knock short, but Noor Ahmad’s unbeaten 6 off 4 balls and 7 extras (5 leg byes, 1 wide, 1 no-ball) added crucial runs.
Afghanistan’s 169 for 8 came at a run rate of 8.45 per over, with 10 fours and 9 sixes. The wickets fell steadily. No reviews overturned the umpires’ calls. Sri Lanka’s bowling was led by Thushara’s brilliant 4 for 18 in 4 overs (economy 4.50, 12 dot balls), while Chameera took 1 for 50 (12.50), Wellalage 1 for 49 (12.25), Shanaka 1 for 29 (7.25), and Hasaranga a tight 0 for 18 (4.50). Nabi’s late charge gave Afghanistan a fighting chance, setting up a tense chase.
Chasing 170, Sri Lanka put on a composed display, reaching 171 for 4 in 18.4 overs to win by 6 wickets with 8 balls to spare. Kusal Mendis, with an unbeaten 74, was the backbone of the chase, guiding Sri Lanka to the top of Group B with 6 points and a net run rate of 1.278, while ending Afghanistan’s campaign.
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis opened with intent. Nissanka hit a quick 6 off 5 balls, including a boundary, at a strike rate of 120.00, but Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed him in the third over, caught by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, with the score at 22 for 1. Kamil Mishara struggled at the crease, scoring 4 off 10 balls at a strike rate of 40.00 before Nabi had him caught by Ibrahim Zadran in the sixth over, leaving Sri Lanka at 47 for 2. A review for a wicket challenge on Mishara in the third over was upheld, keeping Afghanistan in the game.
Kusal Perera brought urgency, scoring 28 off 20 balls with three fours at a strike rate of 140.00. His 45-run stand with Mendis kept Sri Lanka on track, but Mujeeb got him caught by keeper Gurbaz in the 12th over, making it 92 for 3. Captain Charith Asalanka added a quick 17 off 12 balls, with two fours, at a strike rate of 141.66. His 27-run partnership with Mendis steadied the chase, but Noor Ahmad dismissed him in the 15th over, caught by Rashid Khan, with the score at 119 for 4.
With 51 runs needed off the last five overs, Kamindu Mendis joined Kusal Mendis to seal the victory. Their unbeaten 52-run fifth-wicket stand was clinical, with Kamindu scoring 26 not out off 13 balls, including two sixes, at a strike rate of 200.00. Kusal Mendis, the anchor, finished unbeaten on 74 off 52 balls, with 10 fours and a strike rate of 142.30, balancing caution with aggression. Extras added 16 runs, including 1 leg bye and a costly 15 wides, which hurt Afghanistan’s defense.
Sri Lanka’s run rate of 9.16 saw them reach 50 in 5.4 overs, 100 in 12.4 overs, and 150 in 17.2 overs. The powerplay yielded 53 for 2. With 16 fours and 2 sixes, Mendis’s half-century (off 40 balls) and the fifth-wicket partnership (50 runs in 23 balls) were decisive. Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka. Fazalhaq Farooqi went for 38 in 3 overs (economy 12.66) without a wicket. Mujeeb took 1 for 42 in 3.4 overs (11.45), Omarzai was tight with 1 for 10 in 2 overs, Nabi took 1 for 20 in 3 overs, and Rashid was economical with 0 for 23 in 4 overs. Noor Ahmad claimed 1 for 37 in 3 overs but lacked control. The 15 wides were a significant blow, easing Sri Lanka’s path to victory.
With Afghanistan reeling at 79 for 6, Mohammad Nabi produced a moment of pure magic that defined the match. His unbeaten 60 off 22 balls, with three fours and six sixes, was a breathtaking display of power and composure.
At a strike rate of 272.72, Nabi tore into Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly hammering Dunith Wellalage in the final over. His 44-minute blitz lifted Afghanistan to 169 for 8, turning a crumbling innings into a competitive total. Despite a run-out on the last ball, Nabi’s explosive knock gave his team a fighting chance and earned the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game.
Kusal Mendis was the heartbeat of Sri Lanka’s chase, earning the TCNI Hero of the Day for his match-winning 74 not out off 52 balls. With 10 fours and a strike rate of 142.30, Mendis anchored the innings with poise, navigating early losses and building key partnerships with Kusal Perera (45 runs) and Kamindu Mendis (52 runs).
His calm yet aggressive batting neutralised Afghanistan’s spinners and ensured Sri Lanka chased 170 in 18.4 overs, securing a 6-wicket victory and progression. Mendis’s masterclass was the difference, making him the undisputed hero.