Match Details
That's all for today, thanks for joining us in the ball-to-ball commentary for the contest. This is Saurabh Saket signing off alongside my fellow commentators, Shubham and Ovaise. See you in the next game!
Afghanistan took on Pakistan in the 18th fixture of the U19 World Cup in a Group C fixture hosted at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Tarouba. Pakistan won the toss and decided to have a go with the bat first. The team lost their first wicket in the 11th over in the form of Haseebullah Khan, who got caught behind the stumps. Muhammad Shehzad and Abdul Faseeh stabilized the innings for the Pakistan side as they put up a sixty run partnership for the second wicket.
Afghanistan controlled the middle overs picking up wickets in crucial situations not allowing Pakistan to run away with the scoreboard. Skipper, Qasim Akram and Maaz Sadaqat helped Pakistan put over 200 on the board as the duo took on the Afghan bowlers in the final fifteen overs. Sadaqat scored an unbeaten 42, making sure Pakistan ended up with a respectable total of 239 at the end of the fifty overs.
Chasing 240, Afghanistan had a slow start to the innings as Bilal Sayedi and Kharote took their time to settle into the crease. The opening pair put up a 38 run partnership in the first ten overs. Kharote was the first to depart as Awais Ali sent the opener back to the pavilion with a beautiful ball angling outside the stumps. Noor and Safi were the next batters in line as they partnered up to keep their side in the chase.
Pakistan turned the tides with two back to back run-outs in the 33rd over pushing Afghanistan on the back foot. Ahmadzai tried to keep the chase alive from one end but wasn't able to help his side reach the target. The Afghan side fell 24 runs short of the target as Pakistan were able to restrict them to 215 at the end of 50 overs.
Pakistan will surely benefit with the win here over Afghanistan and will hopefully take the momentum from the game into their upcoming fixtures. Pakistan have qualified into the next stages of the tournament with still games in hand and will definitely use the opportunity to test out their squad.