Asia Cup, 2025 |Match 11 |9/18/2025 Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Commentary
We have our Super Fours - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan en route to the next round, while others will take planes to their home. Just one more game remaining in the Group Stages. It's India taking on Oman. Do join us on the 19th of this month at 2.30 pm GMT. You can join us earlier for the build up. Till then, cheers!
Charith Asalanka, the skipper of Sri Lanka says that he is really pleased with the performance. Adds that it was almost a perfect game for them, the pacers doing well early and it was just the last over that went wrong. Says that Nuwan Thushara has been really good with the new ball and he always gets a wicket and bowls 2-3 overs up front. Mentions that the catches were amazing, Kusal Perera and Dushmantha Chameera were outstanding taking those. Tells that they want to be the best fielding side in the country in this format and always try to put their all. Ends by saying that the fans have been brilliant and hopes that they continue to support in the same way in the next round.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan praised Mohammad Nabi's incredible performance, particularly in the last over of the innings. Nabi's awareness of the spinner's upcoming over allowed him to play strategically, and his hitting of 5 sixes in that over was remarkable. Khan described the way they finished the innings as 'really special.' Khan noted that the pitch wasn't typical of Abu Dhabi's spinning tracks and that chasing a target of 170-180 would require good cricketing shots. He reflected on their previous game, where they missed a chance to chase down a modest total, highlighting the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. Looking ahead, Khan emphasized the need for his team to learn from their mistakes and move forward. Despite extensive preparation for ICC events over the past three years, Afghanistan's performance in this competition fell short of expectations. Khan vowed to analyze their shortcomings and return stronger in the future.
Kusal Mendis wins the PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARD for his match-winning innings. He says that he is happy with his knock and the result. Also praises Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis for the way they batted. Mentions that the Afghan spinners are faster than the others, so he tried to play behind the wicket more. Says that now they have to play three good teams in the Super Four, but they have a balanced squad and is looking forward to the challenge
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Rashid Khan's bowling changes were a bit questionable as well. Azmatullah Omarzai bowled superbly inside the Powerplay but ended up bowling just two overs while their heavy-spin attack failed to stem the run flow. However, if truth be told, Afghanistan needed more runs as Mohammad Nabi's lone magical effort in the fag end of the innings helped Afghanistan end on a high, but not with enough runs on the board.
Afghanistan struggled to pick wickets. They managed two scalps inside the Powerplay but Kusal Mendis blossomed at the top with contributions from Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis to keep the scoreboard ticking. Sri Lanka needed one big innings from their top three, and Mendis answered with a fine, fine innings of high quality. His innings was nicely paced with a lot of running and finding gaps as the pitch got tricky to bat under the lights.
Two overs that changed the course of the game. Afghanistan were 120/7 in 18 overs, dead and buried as their batting failed dearly but cometh the hour, cometh the man, Mr. President, Mohammad Nabi went berserk in the last two overs as Afghanistan scored 49 runs with Nabi scoring five sixes in the final over. Afghanistan had all the momentum and with the tail up, they were expected to flourish with the ball but not to be.
Sri Lanka cross the line and are into the Super Fours but it's their arch-rivals Bangladesh who are enjoying as well. Yes, with Sri Lanka, it's Bangladesh who qualify for the Super Fours. Afghanistan on the other hand, had things in their hand but apart from that, TWO OVERS in the first innings, it was an abysmal performance.
18.4
4
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! JOB DONE! Kusal Mendis finishes off in style! Shorter delivery on middle, Kusal Mendis pulls it to the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. He is pumped up and punches the air in celebration. Sri Lanka win by 6 wickets.
We can see a few Bangladeshi supporters present in the stadium, and they have started celebrating as they know they are on the verge of qualification as well. Afghanistan are closing in on another heartbreak.
18.3
4
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! Another boundary required! Shorter and wide of off. Kusal Mendis frees his arms and cuts it past backward point, the fielder is too wide and it rolls to the fence.
18.2
1
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kamindu Mendis, Flatter delivery, around off. Kamindu nudges it to mid-wicket for a single. He wants another run but is sent back. Sri Lanka do not want any kind of trouble at this point. Just 7 runs needed.
18.1
2
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Kamindu Mendis, Tossed up on middle, Kamindu Mendis flicks it to deep square leg where a misfield allows a couple of runs.
END OF OVER 18 | 15 Runs & 0 Wkt | SL 160/4
Just 10 runs needed now for Sri Lanka! Surely, they can't lose it from here, can they? We saw them struggling a bit under pressure against Hong Kong, China, in the last game, but they will hope there are no more hiccups here. Here's Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl the penultimate over.
17.6
2
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kusal Mendis, A gentle full toss on middle, Kusal Mendis gets inside the line and low to whack it to deep mid-wicket. Sediqullah Atal runs to his left, dives and stops to save a couple. 15 runs off the over.
17.5
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kamindu Mendis, Fazalhaq Farooqi pushes it full and just outside off. Kamindu steps across and lofts it to long on who picks up on a bonunce.
17.4
6
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kamindu Mendis, SIX! Sri Lanka want to finish it off now! Drops it short and climbs onto the batter, on leg. Kamindu pulls it over fine leg and it goes all the way. 12 runs in four balls.
17.3
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kusal Mendis, Overpitches and keeps it away from the batter, outside off. Kusal works it to long off for a single.
17.2
4
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! 150 up for Sri Lanka! Short of a length and on middle, bowls the off-cutter but the length was poor. Kusal Mendis pulls it in the gap to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
17.1
1
Fazalhaq Farooqi to Kamindu Mendis, Short of a length and on middle, Kamindu tries to lap it over but edges it to the keeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who dives forward but fails to carry it cleanly. It rolls away for a quick single.
END OF OVER 17 | 17 Runs & 0 Wkt | SL 145/4
Time for some pace now as Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-0-23-0) comes back into the attack. The umpire has also given a warning to Afghanistan for not starting the over in time.
16.6
1
Noor Ahmad to Kamindu Mendis, Tossed up around off, Kamindu goes for the big slog-sweep but mistimes it on the leg side for a single. 17 runs off the over.