Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 3 wickets
Inspired Afghanistan team lost the victory against strong Pakistan in the last over sensation in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Shoaib Malik, the experienced man, who snatched the victory from the claw of Aghan bowlers and gave a sigh of relief to Pakistan side.
Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan scored 257-6 in their 50 overs which Pakistan chased down in 49.3 overs for the loss of seven wickets at Abu Dhabi stadium.
Chasing a 258-run target, Pakistan had a setback losing early wicket and the spinner attacks from Afghan side was mounting pressures on batsmen as asking run rate was going high.
Imam-ul-Haque and Babar Azam’s 150-run stand in second wicket had given Pakistan a strong base to chase the target. But following batsmen failed to handle the world class spinners like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman.
In last three over (18 balls) Pakistan was needed 30 runs to win and four wickets were in hand.
Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 51 runs off 43 balls led the Pakistan to overcome scare and got a 3-wicket win. He was declared man of the match.
Scoreboard in the Asia Cup Super Four match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Friday:
Afghanistan Innings:
Mohammad Shahzad c Sarfraz b Nawaz 20
Ihsanullah Janat c and b Nawaz 10
Rahmat Shah c and b Nawaz 36
Hashmatullah Shahidi not out 97
Asghar Afghan b Shaheen 67
Mohammad Nabi c Hasan b Shaheen 7
Najibullah Zadran b Hasan 5
Gulbadin Naib not out 10
Extras: (lb2, nb2, w1) 5
Total: (for six wkts; 50 overs) 257
Did not bat: Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Aftab Alam
Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Ihsanullah), 2-31 (Shahzad), 3-94 (Shah), 4-188 (Asghar), 5-200 (Nabi), 6-212 (Najibullah)
Bowling: Shinwari 10-1-58-0 (1nb), Shaheen 10-0-38-2, Nawaz 10-1-57-3, Malik 4-0-21-0, Sohail 6-0-30-0, Hasan 10-0-51-1 (1nb, 1w)
Pakistan Innings
Fakhar Zaman lbw b Mujeeb 0
Imam-ul-Haq run out 80
Babar Zaman st Shahzad b Rashid 66
Haris Sohail c Ihsanullah b Mujeeb 13
Shoaib Malik not out 51
Sarfraz Ahmed b Naib 8
Asif Ali c Alam b Rashid 7
Mohammad Nawaz b Rashid 10
Hasan Ali not out 6
Extras: (b2, lb2, w13) 17
Total: (for seven wkts; 49.3 overs) 258
Did not bat: Usman Shinwari, Shaheen Shah
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Zaman), 2-154 (Imam), 3-158 (Azam), 4-194 (Sohail), 5-216 (Sarfraz), 6-226 (Asif), 7-242 (Nawaz)
Bowling: Mujeeb 10-2-33-2 (3w) Alam 9.3-1-64-0 (4w) Naib 10-0-61-1 (3w), Nabi 10-0-50-0 (1w), Rashid 10-0-46-3 (2w)
Result: Pakistan win by three wickets
Toss: Afghanistan
Umpires: Anil Chaudhry (IND) and Shaun George (RSA)
Tv umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
