SL Win By 6 Wickets | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Highlights of Asia Cup 2025: Kusal Mendis' Half-Century Powers Sri Lanka to Super 4's Unbeaten; Bangladesh Qualify Alongside While Afghanistan Gets Knocked Out

That's it! End of the road for Afghanistan and they lose two games and are now eliminated from the race to the Super 4's. Sri Lanka manage a comfortable victory in the end with Kusal Mendis scoring a fantastic half-century. They qualified the moment they crossed 101 but they will now enter Super 4's unbeaten. With this result, Bangladesh are the second team to qualify from Group B/ 

Kamindu Mendis decided to take on the dangerous Noor Ahmad and got the better of him. With it, the game came into the hands of Sri Lanka and they have paced the remainder of the chase well. They are now on the brink of victory with only a few runs remaining, less than a run a ball. 

Out! Important breakthrough for Afghanistan and this wicket will keep the match hanging in balance. The partnership of Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis was taking the game away from Afghanistan but Noor Ahmad intervened. Asalanka went for a slog sweep, but didn't get enough to clear the mid-wicket boundary. Rashid Khan ran in and took a very good sliding catch. On the other side, Mendis completed his half-century. Asalanka c Rashid Khan b Noor Ahmad 17(12).

Sri Lanka has saved their net run rate enough to secure qualify for the Super 4's. They needed 101 runs to make their way into the next round and they have achieved that. They will want to enter the Super 4's unbeaten but their ambitions took a big blow when Mujeeb Ur Rahman had Kusal Perera caught behind by a venomous delivery. Kusal Perera c Gurbaz b Mujeeb 28(20).

After a decent start in the powerplay, Sri Lanka went into shell for a period of time with Afghanistan's premier spinners in action. They have looked to break the shackles and did well till the halfway mark. But with more spinners to come, both batters will want to get that one big over after the drinks break and inject momentum into the innings. 

Out! It is Mohammad Nabi who steps up to the occasion yet again. Off-break on off-stump line, Kamil Mishara hesitantly plays the check drive, but the balls stops enough so that he can't keep it down. The ball gently lobs to the short cover fielder who takes an easy catch. Afghanistan strike twice in powerplay. Kamil Mishara c Ibrahim Zadran b Nabi 4(10).

Sri Lanka are chasing a competitive total of 170 runs under the conditions on offer and for that they need to maximise the powerplay. Kusal Mendis has attempted to do exactly that as he landed some solid blows despite Pathum Nissanka on the other end falling to Azmatullah Omarzai. Mendis will look to continue it throughout the powerplay. 

Out! Mohammad Nabi desperately wanted the second but it was not to be and he is run out. But the highlight of the over is the damage he has done to Dunith Wellalage. He smashed him to all parts of the ground and hit him for five sixes in one over. He gathered 32 runs from the over and also completed his half-century. Nabi's power-packed knock has pushed Afghanistan to a strong total from an uncomfortable position. Nabi run out (Kusal Perera/Kusal Mendis) 60(22).

Out! Nuwan Thushara strikes again. He has been on a roll and once again he is the man for Sri Lanka. Bowled a slower ball with lot of sidespin on him, Rashid Khan sits to play a lap shot, but the ball dipped and hit Rashid Khan on the chest before going on to roll over to the stumps and dislodge the bails. Rashid didn't realise first and asked for a review, but the Umpire showed him the stumps. The dangerman has to go back. Rashid Khan b Nuwan Thushara 24(23).

Under pressure, Rashid Khan looks to follow the template of Shaheen Shah Afridi from the UAE game. A bit of counter-attack and the attempt to introduce chaos through some shots. If the run gets into the range of a competitive total, the Afghan spinners will have something to bowl at. He had landed some shots and is looking for more. 

Out! Afghanistan are falling in a heap and they are into their last reserves now. In the previous over, Dashun Shanka's ball was chopped onto the stumps by Azmatullah Omarzai and As Ibrahim Zadran was looking to help Afghanistan recover, his lofted shot was superbly caught by Dushmantha Chameera at long off. Some sensational fielding from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are in deep trouble. Azmatullah b Shanaka 6(4) and Ibrahim Zadran c Chameera b Wellalage 24(27).

Out! Darwish Rasooli departs after a short spell of partnership with Ibrahim Zadran. Short of length ball from Dushmantha Chameera outside off. Darwish Rasooli slashed at it and hope the ball has the legs to go over the deep third man fielder. It was going that way but Kusal Perera interfered. After grabbing the ball Perera realised he was losing balance so he threw it in the air and came back to complete the catch. Replays show a clean catch and Umpire adjudged Rasooli out. Darwish Rasooli c Kusal Perera b Chameera 9(16).

Out! Excellent move by Charith Asalanka to bring Nuwan Thushara back for a third over and he has delivered another wicket. Once again the ball swinging in, Sediqullah Atal goes for a hopeless half-punch and the ball evades the bat to knock over his stump. Thushara and Sri Lanka are flying here. Sediqullah Atal b Nuwan Thushara 18(14).

Out! Karim Janat departs! Nuwan Thushara has made a mark twice in the same over. Gets the ball to outswing a little, Janat plays for the line and the ball takes out his off-stump. Janat was promoted to provide some impetus in the powerplay but is inexperience against the new ball backfired. Karim Janat b Nuwan Thushara 1(3).

Out! First wicket for Sri Lanka and it is Nuwan Thushara who brings it. Afghanistan got off to a decent start and was looking to go hard at the Sri Lanka new ball bowlers. Rahmanullah Gurbaz charged at Nuwan Thushara but got an outside edge which was gobbled up by the fielder at the flying slip. Necessary breakthrough for Sri Lanka. Gurbaz c Kusal Perera b Nuwan Thushara 14(8).

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara.

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Toss Update: Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. 

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the SL vs AFG Asia Cup 2025 match. Stay tuned to get live score updates, toss update, playing XI and commentary.