The stakes couldn’t have been higher when Sri Lanka met Afghanistan in their final Group B encounter of the Asia Cup 2025. Afghanistan, buoyed by Mohammad Nabi’s breathtaking late onslaught, set up a challenging total, but Sri Lanka responded with poise. At the heart of their reply stood Kusal Mendis, crafting a calm and calculated innings that epitomised control under fire. Kusal Mendis‘ unbeaten 74 became the defining difference between survival and elimination.
Afghanistan Sets a Fighting Total
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, putting up 169/8 in their 20 overs. While their innings started shakily, wickets fell at regular intervals ;the tail and death overs fire from Mohammad Nabi injected late momentum. He slammed 60 off just 22 balls, including five towering sixes in the final over bowled by Dunith Wellalage, pushing Afghanistan to a total that gave the Afghan bowlers something to hold onto.
Their recovery from 137/7 to 169 was largely built on that late-game surge. Earlier, Sri Lanka bowlers especially Nuwan Thushara had done most of the damage, Thushara claiming 3 for 18 in a fiery spell to dismantle Afghanistan’s top and middle order.
Kusal Mendis Anchors Sri Lanka’s Chase
Chasing 170 to stay alive and qualify, Sri Lanka needed a steady and big knock and Kusal Mendis provided just that. He walked in with the match hanging in balance and played with poise from ball one. Over 52 balls, Kusal Mendis crafted a knock of 74 not out, anchoring a chase that would otherwise have been difficult to do without his composed innings.
He combined smart shot selection with controlled aggression, punishing loose deliveries, trusting his defence when needed, and managing the dot ball pressure when Afghanistan’s spinners and change bowlers turned up the heat
Partnered by Kamindu Mendis, who contributed a quickfire 26 not out off 13 balls, Sri Lanka turned the screws on the required run-rate in the final overs. The duo sealed the match with nine balls to spare, finishing on 171/4 in 18.4 overs.
Turning Points & Key Performers
There were several pivotal moments. Early wickets by Thushara undermined Afghanistan’s top order and made their later efforts more difficult to sustain. The momentum swing came with Nabi’s explosive finish with the bat but that was not enough to stretch the target beyond Sri Lanka’s reach.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers came up with the dismissals when needed those early breakthroughs set the platform for the chase. Afghanistan’s middle order failed to build a match-winning partnership, and despite the fireworks at the end, the pressure proved too much and the total wasn’t enough for them to defend.
With this win, Sri Lanka advance to the Super Four stage, joining Bangladesh from Group B. They finish the group undefeated, having shown balance between bowling and batting, thriving under pressure and managing chases cleanly.
For Afghanistan, this defeat seals their elimination. Their result shows vulnerabilities, inability to sustain partnerships, too much dependency on late hitting, and failure to close pivotal matches.
Kusal Mendis’ composed, unbeaten 74 wasn’t just a high score, it was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s qualification for the Super Four. In a match packed with pressure, momentum swings, and late drama, he stood unflustered. Sri Lanka’s win reaffirms their tournament credentials; Afghanistan must now reflect on what could have been.
Also Read: SL vs BAN : Kusal Mendis’ Marvelous Ton & Bowlers Outclass Bangladesh In Decider