Afghanistan 169 for 8 (Nabi 60 off 22, Rashid 24; Thushara 4-18) v Sri Lanka – Asia Cup, Lahore
For the best part of 18 overs Sri Lanka were on a gentle stroll. Then Mohammad Nabi arrived, and the mood shifted sharply. The veteran all-rounder flogged 60 from just 22 deliveries, including five successive sixes off Dunith Wellalage in the final over, dragging Afghanistan from a middling 120-odd to a rather useful 169 for 8.
“I just backed my strengths and looked to hit straight,” Nabi told the host broadcaster moments after walking off, still breathing heavily. “Once one came out of the middle, I felt I could go after every ball.”
Key numbers first. Afghanistan plundered 49 runs from the last two overs: 19 off Dasun Shanaka, 30 off Wellalage. Until then Sri Lanka’s attack had looked secure, Nuwan Thushara’s slingy four-for (4-18) and Wanindu Hasaranga’s miserly spell (0-18) keeping the chase for Super-Four qualification under control.
The selection gamble to omit Maheesh Theekshana meant Wellalage, only 22 and still learning his trade, was left to close out. He tried rapid, flat darts; Nabi kept freeing the front leg and parking the ball into the long-off and cow-corner seating. “Tough lesson, but that’s T20,” former captain Angelo Mathews noted on commentary. “You don’t often see 30 off a spinner in the 20th.”
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s seamers had chipped away—Chameera unlucky to concede 50 despite beating the bat repeatedly—while Shanaka filled the fifth-bowler slot for 1-29. Afghanistan’s top order never fully settled, though Rashid Khan’s breezy 24 gave Nabi a sliver of support.
From here the maths is simple. Afghanistan must defend 169 to stay alive; Sri Lanka need 170 to top the group. Conditions remain good for stroke-play, so power-play wickets could decide it.
Either way, Nabi’s burst has turned what looked a routine chase into something altogether nervier. The beauty of T20: blink and the script is in shreds.
