• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Kusal Mendis Knocks Afghanistan Out Of Asia Cup Despite Mohammad Nabis Six Fest

Kusal Mendis Knocks Afghanistan Out Of Asia Cup Despite Mohammad Nabi’s Six-Fest

Aakash Saini

Kusal Mendis celebrating his 50 against Afghanistan [Source: @MidnightMusinng/x]Kusal Mendis celebrating his 50 against Afghanistan [Source: @MidnightMusinng/x]

Sri Lanka outclassed Afghanistan in the final Group B match of the 2025 Asia Cup, with opening batter Kusal Mendis delivering a knockout punch to the Rashid Khan-led side. Nuwan Thushara, meanwhile, excelled with the ball by picking up four Afghan wickets. 

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the 11th match of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, as it panned out at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, September 18.

Mohammad Nabi Overcomes Thushara’s Four-Fer With Record 50

Overcoming top-order setbacks, number seven batter Mohammad Nabi blazed Afghanistan to a competitive 169-8 from 20 overs. Nabi blasted a 20-ball half-century, and whacked 60 runs off 22 balls in all with three fours and six huge sixes. The legendary all-rounder launched five of those sixes in succession in a 32-run final over from Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage.

Earlier in the game, new ball paceman Nuwan Thushara struck thrice in the powerplay before getting rid of dangerman Rashid Khan to claim sensational figures of 4-18 in his four overs. For Afghanistan, captain Rashid chipped in with a near run-a-ball 24 while number four Ibrahim Zadran made a sluggish 24 off 27 balls before falling to Wellalage.

Kusal Mendis Drives Sri Lanka To A Clinical Win

Chasing 170, Sri Lanka lost opener Pathum Nissanka for just six to Azmatullah Omarzai, and number three batter Kamil Mishara for a sluggish four to Mohammad Nabi both inside the powerplay overs. Kusal Mendis, however, remained defiant in his approach and minted 74 unbeaten runs off 52 balls with 10 elegant boundaries.

Mendis crafted a cunning 45-run partnership with Kusal Perera (28 off 20) before the latter got deceived by Mujeeb Ur Rahman around the halfway stage of the innings. Noor Ahmad (1-37) got rid of Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka for 17, allowing Kamindu Mendis to arrive to the crease in the 15th over. Kamindu smeared 26* off just 13 balls as he and half-centurion Kusal Mendis steered Sri Lanka to a comprehensive six-wicket win in 18.4 overs.