Mohammad Nabi hits fastest half-century for Afghanistan in ODIs but misses breaking Shahid Afridi's Asia Cup record

All-rounder Mohammad Nabi broke the record for the fastest half-century in ODIs for Afghanistan. 10 days earlier, Mujeeb Ur Rahman hit a 25-ball half-century against Pakistan in a losing cause. Nabi reached his half-century against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2023 from just 24 balls. 
 

Nabi was at his attacking best in the high-voltage run chase. As Afghanistan needed to chase down 292 from 37.1 overs to qualify for the Super Fours stage, Nabi made his intentions known early in the innings. 
 

After playing three dot balls, he got off the mark with a six against Dunith Wellalage. He did not spare in-form pacer Matheesha Pathirana and hit him for a six and two fours. He gave a similar treatment to Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka. He got to his half-century with a boundary off Pathirana. This was also his 16th ODI fifty.

Nabi punished Sri Lanka's strike bowler Kasun Rajitha with two sixes in the next over. But he fell to Maheesh Theekshana as Dhananjaya de Silva took an excellent catch at long-on. He scored 65 runs from 32 balls including six fours and five sixes.
 

As Nabi got out to Theekshana, he missed a chance to break former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi's record in Asia Cup 2023. Nabi scored at a strike rate of 203.12. His strike rate was the second-highest in an ODI Asia Cup innings for a batter who faced at least 30 balls.
 

The record belongs to Afridi who smashed 124 off 60 balls at a strike rate of 206.66 against Bangladesh in Dambulla in Asia Cup 2010.
 

In the end, Nabi's quickfire half-century went in vain as Afghanistan did not just fail to qualify for the Super Fours stage but lost the match by two runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on September 5.
 

Earlier, Nabi was economical with the ball as well. The off-spinner remained wicketless but he conceded 35 runs from his quota of 10 overs while every other Afghan bowler conceded runs at six runs per over or more.
 

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