NEW DELHI: Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi unleashed a spectacular screen of death-overs hitting to restore Afghanistan’s hopes in their must-win Asia Mug Group B clash versus Sri Lanka at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The 40 -year-old blew up a whirlwind 60 off just 22 balls, wrecking 5 looming 6s in a solitary over to propel Afghanistan from a ragged edge to a competitive total of 169/ 8 Nabi’s fireworks with the bat came nearly poetically on the eve of the anniversary of Yuvraj Singh ‘s iconic six-sixes attack against Stuart Broad during the 2007 ICC T 20 Globe Mug. At 120/ 7 after 18 overs, Afghanistan’s innings appeared headed for collapse, particularly after Nuwan Thushara tore via their leading order with an intense 4/ 18 spell. But Nabi, the longest-serving participant of the Afghan side, transformed the video game on its head with an amazing assault in the last two overs– ransacking 46 runs, including 32 off the final over bowled by Dunith Wellalage. Nabi’s 35 -run stand with skipper Rashid Khan (24 was the highest partnership of the innings. Wellalage went down Nabi when in the deep– a pricey miss– before being at the receiving end of 5 easily struck sixes in the last over, one coming off a no-ball. Nabi was run out on the last ball, however not prior to ensuring Afghanistan had an overall to protect. Earlier, Afghanistan began quickly with 26 runs in the very first two overs, yet Thushara’s incisive powerplay ruptured got rid of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat and Sediqullah Atal to lower them to 45/ 3 The innings slowed as Sri Lanka’s fielding luster– a sharp relay catch from Kusal Perera and a magnificent grab by Dushmantha Chameera — maintained pegging Afghanistan back. Rashid briefly counter-attacked with two limits and a no-look six off Dasun Shanaka prior to being up to Thushara. Nabi after that launched his counter-assault, splitting three consecutive borders off Chameera and at some point increasing his fifty off just 20 spheres– the joint-fastest T 20 I fifty for Afghanistan. Nabi’s 60 made him just the 2nd 40 -plus player after Chris Gayle and Mohammad Hafeez to rack up a T 20 I fifty against a full-member side. Afghanistan’s 169/ 8 likewise came to be the third-highest total by a full-member side after losing 6 gates for under 80 in T 20 Is. For Sri Lanka, the 32 runs acknowledged by Wellalage in that over was their second-most costly in T 20 I background, behind the 36 -run over smashed by Kieron Pollard off Akila Dananjaya in 2021 Nabi’s incredible attack has actually not simply revitalized Afghanistan’s innings– it has actually reignited their hopes of reaching the Super Fours.