Top 5 bowling performances of Mohammad Nabi in international cricket
Currently in the second half of his thirties, Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is enjoying the dusk of his career. Given his scintillating form in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League, one might think that Nabi is bound to play for another decade. But given his age, the end might be near for him.
Looking back, it was been a fantastic international career for him. He was one of the major architects of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket. From being a team no one knew much about to the team that poses a threat against the biggest cricketing nations, Afghanistan has improved in leaps and bounds. So has Nabi, from an individual perspective.
Let us have a look at the top 5 bowling performances of Mohammad Nabi in international cricket:
5. 4/30 vs Ireland (2017)
We start off our list with an ODI game between Afghanistan and Ireland, that took place in Greater Noida in 2017. Batting first, Afghanistan had a horrendous start. They were at one stage 7 wickets down for 83 runs, and an all-out before crossing the 100-run mark was on the cards. But Nabi played a heroic knock to help Afghanistan cross the 200-run mark.
But his job was far from over. Ireland had a very contrasting start, as openers Paul Stirling and Ed Joyce got off to a flyer. Nabi broke the partnership in the 10th over, when he got rid of Stirling. Five overs later, he dismissed another experienced Ireland batter in William Porterfield. His later took two more wickets, in the form of Andy Balbirnie and Andy McBrine. Unfortunately for Afghanistan, Nabi’s all-round brilliance wasn’t enough to give them the desired win.
4. 4/30 vs Sri Lanka (2019)
This entry on the list of top 5 bowling performances of Mohammad Nabi in international cricket is from a very crucial game against Sri Lanka. It was the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, and the match was being played at Cardiff. Batting first, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera gave Sri Lanka a wonderful start.
Once again, Nabi was the man to provide Afghanistan with their first breakthrough. He dismissed Karunaratne in the 14th over. He paralyzed Sri Lanka’s batting unit by taking three wickets in the 22nd over. The victims were the experienced Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews. Once again, his spell went in vain as Afghanistan lost the match.
3. 4/20 vs Hong Kong (2016)
Nabi performs well in the biggest stages, as after a CWC match, this mention is from an ICC World T20 2016 qualification game. It was a game between Afghanistan and Hong Kong at Nagpur. Once again, Afghanistan’s opponent had a brilliant start. Hong Kong’s openers Jamie Atkinson and Ryan Campbell were in sublime knick.
Nabi got the first wicket again. He dismissed Campbell in the 6th over. In the very same over, he got rid of Babar Hayat as well. Nabi then kept on keeping a check on the flow of runs, but in terms of taking wickets, he came to life again in the death. Nizakat Khan and Kinchit Shah were the victims this time. Afghanistan did manage to win this game.
2. 4/17 vs Hong Kong (2016)
Once again against Hong Kong, this entry on the list of top 5 bowling performances of Mohammad Nabi in international cricket is from an Asia Cup 2016 qualification game. Batting first at Dhaka, Afghanistan scored a big total of 178 runs.
Once again Hong Kong got off to a brilliant start, and here as well Mohammad Nabi gave Afghanistan their first breakthrough. Kinchit Shah was his first victim. Three overs later, he dismissed Babar Hayat. In his next over, he got his third wicket in the form of Mark Chapman. In what was his last over of the game, Nabi picked up the crucial wicket of Hong Kong’s skipper Tanwir Afzal.
1. 4/10 vs Ireland (2017)
Nabi’s best-ever bowling performance in an Afghanistan shirt came in a very crucial game against Ireland. It was the final of the 2017 Desert T20 Challenge. Batting first at Dubai, Ireland lost the opener, Stuart Poynter, in the second over. In the fourth over, Nabi handed Ireland another killer blow by dismissing William Porterfield.
In his next over, he dismissed two of Ireland’s most celebrated batters in Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien. He completed his 4-wicket haul by dismissing Craig Young in the 14th over. Nabi’s spell helped Afghanistan bowl Ireland out for just 71, which they managed to chase down with incredible ease.
