Mohammad Nabi’s explosive 60 off 22 balls, including six sixes, powered Afghanistan to 169/8 against Sri Lanka in a crucial Asia Cup clash, overshadowing Nuwan Thushara’s 4/18 and keeping Afghanistan’s Super Four hopes alive in Abu Dhabi.
Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi turned back the clock with an electrifying late-innings assault, smashing a breath-taking 60 runs off just 22 balls, to rescue his side from a precarious position and push them to a fighting total of 169/8 against Sri Lanka in a crucial Asia Cup Group B clash at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Nabi’s sensational knock, laced with six towering sixes and five boundaries, was a masterclass in death-overs hitting. His onslaught not only revived Afghanistan’s innings from the brink of collapse but also ensured that the team ended with momentum firmly in their favor. What made his innings remarkable was the timing—he single-handedly plundered 46 runs in the final two overs, including a staggering 32 in the last over bowled by Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage.
Afghanistan’s rocky start
Afghanistan had begun promisingly, racing to 26 runs in the first two overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Karim Janat looked aggressive against the new ball, but their momentum was quickly halted by Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Thushara. Thushara bowled with pace and accuracy, producing a fiery spell that ripped through the Afghan top order.
In a devastating powerplay performance, Thushara dismissed Gurbaz, Janat, and Sediqullah Atal, leaving Afghanistan wobbling at 45/3 at the end of six overs. The wickets not only slowed down the scoring rate but also forced Afghanistan into a defensive mode as they struggled to rotate strike against disciplined Sri Lankan bowling.
Fielding brilliance and Afghanistan’s struggles
Sri Lanka’s fielding unit further compounded Afghanistan’s problems. Kusal Perera pulled off a stunning relay catch at the boundary to dismiss Darwish Rasooli, while Dushmantha Chameera showed sharp reflexes with a diving effort to send Azmatullah Omarzai back to the pavilion.
Boundaries dried up completely after the fourth over, with Afghanistan heavily reliant on singles. The scoreboard pressure mounted, and at 120/7 by the 18th over, Afghanistan looked destined for a below-par total.
Rashid and Nabi fight back
Captain Rashid Khan offered some resistance in the middle overs. Displaying his trademark aggression, Rashid struck two boundaries off Dasun Shanaka, including a spectacular no-look six that briefly lifted Afghan spirits. His 24-run knock played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings, but once again, Thushara struck at the right moment, rattling Rashid’s stumps and tightening Sri Lanka’s grip on the match.
At this stage, the onus was firmly on Nabi, Afghanistan’s most experienced campaigner. Having been given a reprieve when Dunith Wellalage dropped him in the deep, Nabi seized the moment to change the course of the innings.
He began by attacking Chameera in the 19th over, carving him for three boundaries in a row—behind point, in front of square, and off an edge to fine leg—collecting 17 runs. The intent was clear: Afghanistan were not going to die wondering.
The final-over fireworks
If the 19th over set the tone, the 20th over was pure carnage. Facing Wellalage, Nabi unleashed a devastating display of power hitting. The first three deliveries disappeared over the ropes for sixes, igniting the Afghan dugout and silencing the Sri Lankan supporters.
As pressure mounted on the bowler, Nabi capitalized further, adding two more maximums in the same over, one of them off a no-ball. By the time he was run out on the final delivery, he had transformed Afghanistan’s innings from a modest 130s score to a competitive 169.
His 35-run partnership with Rashid Khan was the highest of the innings, and the way he manipulated the strike in the final overs underlined his experience and calmness under pressure.
Thushara’s brilliance overshadowed
Despite Nabi’s heroics, credit must also be given to Nuwan Thushara, who bowled with great control to finish with exceptional figures of 4/18 in his four overs. His scalps of Afghanistan’s top order nearly derailed the innings, but Nabi’s late fireworks overshadowed what could have been a match-defining spell.
What lies ahead
Afghanistan’s total of 169/8 may not appear insurmountable, but in a high-pressure clash with a Super Four spot on the line, runs on the board are always valuable. Much will depend on how Afghanistan’s bowlers, led by Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, exploit the conditions at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
| Also Read: Marium Fatima becomes Bihar’s first Woman FIDE Master |
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will rue the dropped catch of Nabi—a moment that could cost them dearly if Afghanistan’s bowlers are able to defend the total. For now, Nabi’s spectacular display ensures Afghanistan have more than just a fighting chance in this must-win contest.
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 169/8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nabi 60, Rashid Khan 24; Nuwan Thushara 4-18, Dasun Shanaka 1-29) vs Sri Lanka.
