🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: AFG vs SL, 11th Match, Group B at Abu Dhabi🏏 - Page 14

Rahul Sargam: ""Md Nabi, a 40-year-young lad, smoked 5 sixes in a row but narrowly missed the chance to join the Yuvraj and Pollard academy. Almost, almost! Who says he's old? Hats off to his dedication and fitness. The way the Sri Lankan team was heading towards the pavilion says it all, while Nabi and company will carry a lot of confidence onto the field. This is surely going to be an enthralling contest--I want Afghanistan to pull this off!"

What a recovery by Afghanistan! They were down and out when Rashid walked out to bat in the 13th over. He started the counterattack and Nabi finished it off. They smashed 49 runs in the last 2 overs out of which 32 came off the final over bowled Wellalage. Nabi got stuck into him and hammered 5 sixes, bringing up his fifty off 20 balls. Early on, Thushara ripped the top-order apart as he picked up 3 wickets in the powerplay and gave Sri Lanka the upper hand. The rest of the bowlers continued the good work and reduced them to 79/6 but it all came crashing down in the last 2 overs. Rashid spoke 165 would be a good total on this surface during the toss and his team has given him that. Now upto him and his bowlers to defend this target.

32 runs conceded by Dunith Wellalage is the second-most expensive over for Sri Lanka in T20Is after 36 by Akila Dananjaya (six sixes by Kieron Pollard in Antigua in 2021.

Nuwan Thushara is the third SL bowler to bag a 4-fer in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup after Lasith Malinga (4/26 vs UAE, Mirpur, 2016) and Pramod Madushan (4/34 vs PAK, Dubai, 2022 final).

Fastest T20I fifties for Afghanistan (by balls faced)

20 - Azmatullah Omarzai v HK, Abu Dhabi, 2025

20 - Mohammad Nabi vs SL, Abu Dhabi, 2025

21 - Mohammad Nabi v IRE, Greater Noida, 2017

21 - Gulbadin Naib v IND, Bengaluru, 2024

STATS:

Afghanistan’s 169/8 is the third-highest total for a full-member side after losing first six wickets for under 80 in a Men’s T20I, after Australia’s 178 all-out vs South Africa in Darwin last month and West Indies’ 170/8 vs England at Bridgetown, Barbados in 2022.

And, we are back. Almost. The umpires make their way out, followed soon by the SL openers. SL, remember, need to score 101 or more to qualify. If they get to 170, they knock Afghanistan out and take Bangladesh with them to the Super Four.

Nisanka is out, SL lost their first wicket

2.2 W

Azmatullah to Nissanka, OUT

oh, Pathum Nissanka, what have you done?! This is short and sliding down leg, and Nissanka could have hit that literally anywhere. He gets a bit of bat on it and only picks out Mujeeb at short fine leg. Omarzai leaps up into the air in celebration, and Nissanka has to trudge off. Massive, massive wicket, given how influential Nissanka is to this Sri Lankan side!

Pathum Nissanka c Mujeeb Ur Rahman b Azmatullah Omarzai 6 (5b 1x4 0x6) SR: 120

Afghanistan go up in appeal, and Rashid and Gurbaz are very interested in the caught-behind! Back of a length, pushed across the batter outside off. Mishara goes fishing at it with minimal footwork. Did not seem like there was a sound in real time but Afghanistan are convinced enough to review.