Yesterday's Match 11 of Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2025: Who Took the Win? Here's the Result
Sri Lanka Secure Spot in Super 4 Stage of Asia Cup
Sri Lanka secured their place in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup with a thrilling 57-run victory over Afghanistan. In a spin-heavy attack, Sri Lanka chased down a target of 171-4, demonstrating their resilience and determination.
The match began with a strong performance from Sri Lanka's pacers, led by Nuwan Thushara who took 4 wickets in the powerplay against Afghanistan's top-order. Thushara's impressive bowling saw the dismissals of Sediqullah Atal, Karim Jannat, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rashid Khan, leaving Afghanistan's innings in disarray.
Afghanistan's innings slumped to 114-7 in 17.1 overs due to Thushara's bowling, but a late surge from Mohammad Nabi saw them reach a total of 163-7. Nabi scored 60 runs, hitting 5 sixes against spinner Dunith Wellalage, and added 46 runs in the last two overs, contributing significantly to Afghanistan's total.
In response, Sri Lanka's opening pair of Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis provided a solid foundation, scoring 45 runs together. Perera dropped a catch that would have dismissed Mohammad Nabi when he was on 6, but he made amends later in the match by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Darwish Rasooli with crucial catches.
Mendis played a crucial role in the run-chase, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs from 52 balls. His partnership with Perera (28 runs) laid the groundwork for the victory, and Captain Charith Asalanka contributed 17 runs from 12 balls to help Sri Lanka reach their target.
Asalanka expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, calling it almost perfect. He also praised the pacers for their job in the match, highlighting their impact on Afghanistan's innings.
Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2025, admitted that Afghanistan's bowling performance was not up to par and that it was the reason for their loss. He expressed his desire for Afghanistan to analyze their performance and come back stronger.
Khan recalled Afghanistan's past challenges, including their inability to chase 150 in their last game against Bangladesh. He emphasized the need for Afghanistan to improve their batting performance to compete at the highest level.
Despite the loss, Khan's leadership and determination were evident, and he will be looking to lead Afghanistan to victory in their upcoming matches. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be confident heading into the Super 4 stage, aiming to continue their impressive form.
