Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Table of Contents
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team match scorecard provides a useful overview of the teams’ performances across international cricket. Their rivalry includes Test matches, ODIs, T20Is, and Asia Cup encounters, with Sri Lanka traditionally holding the advantage in bilateral series and Afghanistan producing several notable victories.
One of their important recent meetings came during the 2025 Asia Cup, when Sri Lanka chased Afghanistan’s total of 169/8 and won by six wickets. Earlier, Sri Lanka recorded a dominant 3–0 ODI series victory over Afghanistan in February 2024, including a 155-run win in the second ODI.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Match Summary
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan |
| Tournament | ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 |
| Date | 18 September 2025 |
| Venue | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Format | T20 International |
| Toss | Afghanistan won and elected to bat |
| Afghanistan score | 169/8 in 20 overs |
| Sri Lanka score | 171/4 in 18.4 overs |
| Result | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Kusal Mendis |
Sri Lanka produced a composed chase after Afghanistan posted a competitive total. Kusal Mendis was instrumental in guiding the innings, helping Sri Lanka reach the target with eight balls remaining.
Afghanistan Innings Scorecard
Afghanistan batted first and attempted to build a strong total through their top order. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal provided an aggressive start, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers took regular wickets to prevent Afghanistan from fully capitalising on their opportunities.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 18 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| Karim Janat | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 24 | 27 | 0 | 1 |
| Darwish Rasooli | 9 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Other batters | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 169/8 | 20 overs |
Afghanistan finished with 169/8, a total that gave their bowlers an opportunity to put pressure on Sri Lanka. However, Sri Lanka’s batters managed the chase effectively and avoided a late collapse.
Afghanistan’s Batting Performance
Ibrahim Zadran
Zadran contributed 24 runs and provided some stability during the middle overs. Afghanistan needed a longer innings from their top-order batters to push the total beyond 180.
Sediqullah Atal
Atal scored 18 from 14 balls, helping Afghanistan begin positively. His early boundaries gave the innings momentum, although the team could not maintain a consistently high scoring rate.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Gurbaz struck two boundaries in his eight-ball innings. His aggressive approach is often important to Afghanistan’s T20 strategy, but his dismissal meant the team had to rebuild earlier than planned.
Sri Lanka Bowling Performance
Sri Lanka’s bowling unit focused on taking wickets while limiting Afghanistan’s ability to accelerate late in the innings. The regular breakthroughs prevented Afghanistan from converting their start into a substantially larger total.
The most important elements of Sri Lanka’s bowling performance were:
- Early breakthroughs: Removing attacking batters reduced Afghanistan’s scoring momentum.
- Middle-over control: Sri Lanka limited Afghanistan’s opportunities to build large partnerships.
- Pressure at the death: Afghanistan finished on 169/8 rather than posting a total above 180.
The bowling performance gave Sri Lanka a realistic target and allowed their batters to approach the chase with confidence.
Sri Lanka Innings Scorecard
Sri Lanka began the chase knowing that a steady scoring rate would be sufficient. The team combined controlled batting with timely boundaries, reaching 171/4 in 18.4 overs.
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis | 74* | — |
| Other batters | — | — |
| Total | 171/4 | 18.4 overs |
Kusal Mendis was the leading performer, scoring an unbeaten 74 to steer Sri Lanka towards victory. His innings was the defining contribution of the chase, helping his team remain in control despite losing wickets along the way.
Kusal Mendis Leads the Chase
Mendis demonstrated the importance of balancing aggression with composure in T20 cricket. Rather than allowing the required run rate to become a source of pressure, he continued to score consistently and capitalised on scoring opportunities.
His unbeaten innings ensured Sri Lanka did not need to rely on a final-over finish. The team reached its target in 18.4 overs, winning by six wickets.
Afghanistan Bowling Performance
Afghanistan entered the second innings with an opportunity to defend 169, but Sri Lanka’s batting approach limited their chances of building sustained pressure.
Afghanistan’s bowlers needed to take early wickets and slow down Mendis, but Sri Lanka’s partnerships made the target manageable.
Key lessons from Afghanistan’s bowling effort included:
- Wicket-taking opportunities: Early breakthroughs can significantly alter the direction of a T20 chase.
- Containing the leading batter: Mendis’s innings made it difficult for Afghanistan to defend the total.
- Controlling boundaries: Restricting boundaries during the middle overs could have increased the required rate.
Although Afghanistan could not secure victory, the match demonstrated how small changes in bowling execution can influence a close T20 contest.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan ODI Series, February 2024
Sri Lanka enjoyed a successful home ODI series against Afghanistan in February 2024, winning all three matches. The series featured major batting contributions and effective bowling performances.
| ODI | Sri Lanka score | Afghanistan score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI, 9 February | 381/3 | 339/6 | Sri Lanka won by 42 runs |
| 2nd ODI, 11 February | 308/6 | 153 all out | Sri Lanka won by 155 runs |
| 3rd ODI, 14 February | 267/3 | 266 all out | Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets |
First ODI: Sri Lanka Won by 42 Runs
Sri Lanka posted a huge total of 381/3 in 50 overs. Pathum Nissanka was the standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 210 from 139 balls.
Afghanistan responded with 339/6, but the target proved too large. Sri Lanka won by 42 runs after producing a dominant batting display.
Nissanka’s double century was the highlight of the match and one of the most memorable individual performances in the rivalry.
Second ODI: Sri Lanka Won by 155 Runs
Sri Lanka scored 308/6 in 50 overs, with Charith Asalanka making an unbeaten 97. Kusal Mendis scored 61, Sadeera Samarawickrama added 52, and Janith Liyanage contributed 50.
Afghanistan were bowled out for 153 in 33.5 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga took four wickets for 27 runs, helping Sri Lanka secure a convincing victory and clinch the series with one match remaining.
Third ODI: Sri Lanka Won by 7 Wickets
Afghanistan scored 266 before being dismissed in 48.2 overs. Sri Lanka chased the target, finishing on 267/3 in 35.2 overs.
Pathum Nissanka scored 118 from 101 balls, providing another influential performance. Sri Lanka’s seven-wicket victory completed a 3–0 series sweep.
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan T20I Series, February 2024
The three-match T20I series in February 2024 was more competitive than the ODI series. Sri Lanka won the series 2–1, although Afghanistan secured a narrow victory in the final match.
| T20I | Sri Lanka score | Afghanistan score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I, 17 February | 160 all out | 156/9 | Sri Lanka won by 4 runs |
| 2nd T20I, 19 February | 187/6 | 115 all out | Sri Lanka won by 72 runs |
| 3rd T20I, 21 February | 206/6 | 209/5 | Afghanistan won by 3 runs |
The first T20I was a close contest, with Sri Lanka defending a small margin. The second match saw Sri Lanka dominate with both bat and ball, while Afghanistan responded in the third game with a successful chase of 207.
The final match was particularly exciting because Afghanistan reached the target with one ball remaining, winning by three runs.
Important Players in Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Matches
Pathum Nissanka
Nissanka has been a key contributor for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket. His unbeaten 210 in February 2024 was one of the most impressive innings in the rivalry and helped Sri Lanka post 381/3.
Kusal Mendis
Mendis has played several important innings against Afghanistan. His unbeaten 74 in the 2025 Asia Cup encounter guided Sri Lanka through a successful T20I chase.
Charith Asalanka
Asalanka’s unbeaten 97 in the second ODI of the 2024 series helped Sri Lanka reach 308/6. His ability to accelerate in the middle and late overs makes him an important limited-overs batter.
Wanindu Hasaranga
Hasaranga has been an influential bowler in this matchup. His four-wicket haul in the second ODI of 2024 helped Sri Lanka dismiss Afghanistan for 153.
Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan remains one of Afghanistan’s most dangerous bowlers. His leg-spin and variations can trouble batters in the middle overs, particularly on pitches that offer turn.
Ibrahim Zadran
Zadran is an important part of Afghanistan’s batting lineup. His ability to construct an innings and build partnerships gives Afghanistan stability in both ODIs and T20Is.
What Makes Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Matches Competitive?
The teams bring different strengths to international cricket.
- Sri Lanka’s batting depth: Players such as Nissanka, Mendis, and Asalanka can build substantial innings.
- Afghanistan’s spin attack: Rashid Khan and other specialist spinners can control scoring and take wickets.
- Aggressive T20 batting: Both teams have batters capable of changing a match within a few overs.
- Different playing conditions: Sri Lanka’s home pitches and neutral venues can influence the balance between spin and pace.
- Pressure in major tournaments: Asia Cup matches often carry additional importance, making tactical decisions especially significant.
The rivalry continues to develop as Afghanistan gain experience and Sri Lanka combine established international players with emerging talent.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Asia Cup match in September 2025?
Sri Lanka won by six wickets on 18 September 2025, chasing Afghanistan’s 169/8 and finishing on 171/4 in 18.4 overs.
2. Who was Player of the Match in the 2025 Asia Cup encounter?
Kusal Mendis was named Player of the Match after scoring an unbeaten 74.
3. What was Sri Lanka’s result in the February 2024 ODI series against Afghanistan?
Sri Lanka won all three matches and completed a 3–0 series sweep.
4. Who scored a double century in Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan ODI cricket?
Pathum Nissanka scored an unbeaten 210 from 139 balls in the first ODI on 9 February 2024.
5. What was the result of the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan T20I series in February 2024?
Sri Lanka won the three-match series 2–1. Afghanistan won the final T20I by three runs.
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