AFG vs PAK 2nd T20, AFG vs PAK 2023

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Despite the setback, Imad Wasim continued to bat sensibly and carried the team on his shoulders, ending the innings unbeaten at 64 runs. He found a reliable partner in Shadab Khan, who contributed a crucial 32 runs. Their efforts allowed Pakistan to post a respectable total of 130 runs, giving them a fighting chance in the game. From the bowling front, Fazalhaq Farooqi scalped a couple of wickets for Afghanistan, while Naveen-ul-Haq, Rashid Khan, and Karim Janat each contributed one wicket.

Afghanistan began their chase of Pakistan's 130-run total in style, with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz taking on the bowlers from the very first over. His attacking stroke-play was a treat to watch, but unfortunately, he didn't get any support from his co-opener Usman Ghani, who failed to impress with the bat and fell to the bowling of Zaman Khan after the duo had put up a 30-run opening stand.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the Afghan opener, showed his versatility by shifting gears from aggressive to sensible batting after the early loss of his co-opener. He paired up with Ibrahim Zadran and accumulated runs through smart rotation of the strike. Gurbaz's achievement of reaching 1,000 runs in T20Is added another feather to his cap. The duo, however, struggled to find the boundaries, causing the required run rate to inch around 9 runs per over. Pakistani bowlers sensed the opportunity and tightened their lines, making it difficult for the Afghani batsmen to score freely. The mounting pressure led to a big mix-up between Gurbaz and Zadran, resulting in Gurbaz's run-out after scoring a valuable 44 runs.

As the pressure mounted on Afghanistan, they were dealt another blow when their set batter, Ibrahim Zadran, edged one to the keeper and departed for 38 runs at a crucial juncture of the game. With just two overs left and 22 runs required, the pressure was mounting on Afghanistan. But their experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi stepped up to the occasion and smashed a maximum off the first ball of the penultimate over, unleashing a wave of excitement in the stands. He found an able partner in Najibullah Zadran, who finished off the over with another big hit, further igniting the hopes of the Afghan fans. The equation was now reduced to just 5 runs off the last over.

Najibullah Zadran emerged as the hero for Afghanistan, as he struck a crucial boundary to seal the game in the second last ball of the last over, sparking wild celebrations among the Afghan players and fans alike. The match had been a rollercoaster ride for both teams, but in the end, it was Afghanistan's cool-headedness under pressure that saw them through to a thrilling victory.

From the bowling front, Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah were the only bowlers to extract a wicket for Pakistan. 

With one more game remaining in the series, Afghanistan will be looking to continue their winning momentum and make a clean sweep against Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan needs to reassess their strategy and bounce back stronger in the last match of the series.

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