171/4 (18.4)
CR : 9.16
169/8 (20.0)
CR : 8.45
Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Kusal Mendis
74(52)
11:55 PM IST, 10:25 PM local time: Time for the post match presentation.
Game-changer of the match: Nuwan Thushara
Super sixes of the match: Mohammad Nabi
Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis (Player of the Match): "I am very happy with my innings. Supported really well by Kamindu Mendis and KJ Perera. Their spinners bowl a bit faster than the spinners of the other team. So, I was hitting behind the square. We have had good three games. Everyone played really well."
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain): (On Mohammad Nabi) I think the way we finished the innings was really special. Especially Nabi with the way he played the last over. He knew that there was one over left of a spinner. If one of the batters stayed there till the end, we had maximum chances of getting a big over. But 5 sixes in an over is unbelievable hitting. I think that put us on the right side in the scoreboard to defend that but still, we didn't bowl well at all.
It's pretty hard on a track like that. It's not a typical Abu Dhabi spinning wicket. It's a different wicket compared to Dubai. You still need to play good cricketing shots in order to chase a target of 170-180. We had a great chance last game to chase down a modest total but we failed. That's how things happen in T20s. We need to move forward and try and correct our mistakes.
Well, in the last three years, we have played a lot of ICC events. We had great preparations for every ICC tournament. I was actually expecting more from the boys in this competition. We worked really hard, trained really hard. The expectation was to be in the next round and then see how it goes. We will think about it, analyze ourselves and comeback stronger."
It's pretty hard on a track like that. It's not a typical Abu Dhabi spinning wicket. It's a different wicket compared to Dubai. You still need to play good cricketing shots in order to chase a target of 170-180. We had a great chance last game to chase down a modest total but we failed. That's how things happen in T20s. We need to move forward and try and correct our mistakes.
Well, in the last three years, we have played a lot of ICC events. We had great preparations for every ICC tournament. I was actually expecting more from the boys in this competition. We worked really hard, trained really hard. The expectation was to be in the next round and then see how it goes. We will think about it, analyze ourselves and comeback stronger."
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka captain): "I think I am very pleased with the performance today. It was almost the perfect game for us today. Only one time we went wrong — in that last over (of the first innings). Otherwise we were pretty good.
Nuwan Thushara is a very good player with the new ball. The catches were really good. We want to be the best fielding side in the country. 100% catching is one of our main targets. When it comes to shorter format, we need to catch everything.
(On the fans) When we travel outside, they come to support us. Hopefully, they will keep on supporting us like this."
Nuwan Thushara is a very good player with the new ball. The catches were really good. We want to be the best fielding side in the country. 100% catching is one of our main targets. When it comes to shorter format, we need to catch everything.
(On the fans) When we travel outside, they come to support us. Hopefully, they will keep on supporting us like this."
Most Player of the Match Award in T20Is:
9 - Kusal Mendis
8 - Kusal Perera
7 - Wanindu Hasaranga
9 - Kusal Mendis
8 - Kusal Perera
7 - Wanindu Hasaranga
It’s a commanding win for Sri Lanka here in Abu Dhabi as they wrap up the group stage with three wins out of three, finishing on top in style. For Afghanistan, it’s pure heartbreak—two big games, two missed chances, and their journey in this tournament comes to an end.
With this result, Sri Lanka move into the Super 4s alongside Bangladesh from Group B, while India and the Men in Green are already through from Group A. The focus now turns to tomorrow’s final group clash where India take on Oman.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentators AkshayaKrishna Polya & Darpan Tikiya who, along with scorer/analyst Paras Yadav and statistician Aman brought all the updates of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
With this result, Sri Lanka move into the Super 4s alongside Bangladesh from Group B, while India and the Men in Green are already through from Group A. The focus now turns to tomorrow’s final group clash where India take on Oman.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off on behalf of my co-commentators AkshayaKrishna Polya & Darpan Tikiya who, along with scorer/analyst Paras Yadav and statistician Aman brought all the updates of this clash. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋