Match Details
8:54 PM
IST, Local Time: That’s it. A fast-bowling masterclass was on display tonight in Hambantota
as Pakistan’s pacers have ripped apart Afghanistan. The trio of Shaheen Afridi,
Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf breathed fire and knocked over the Afghan side on 59
to win the game by 143 runs. With this, they have taken a 1-0 lead in the
three-match ODI series. Haris Rauf leads his side out of the field after
picking up a fifer.
Chasing 202, the Afghan side got off to a
disastrous start. Afridi dismissed Ibrahim Zadran on a duck in the third over.
Rahmat Shah fell on the very next delivery on a golden duck. Hashmatullah
Shahidi was dismissed by Naseem on duck as Afghanistan were reduced to 4/3 in
the fourth over. Ikram Ali Khil survived a run out scare but nicked one behind
to the keeper while on four. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was left stranded at the other
end as they reeled at 21/4 at the end of the first 10 overs.
Gurbaz along with Mohammad Nabi tried to build a
partnership but Pakistan’s pacers bowled brilliantly and kept the pair under
pressure. Gurbaz scored 18 off 47 balls before getting dismissed. Rauf got rid
of Nabi (7) and that was the final nail in the coffin as Pakistan wrapped up
the tail quickly to win the game by 142 runs. Haris Rauf registered his best
figures in ODIs as he picked up five wickets, giving away only 18 runs in his
6.2 overs.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan decided to bat first
and it backfired as they lost Fakhar Zaman on two in the very first over. Babar
departed without troubling the scorers to Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Mohammad Rizwan
looked good for his 21 before departing as Pakistan struggled at 46/3 at the
end of the first powerplay. Rashid Khan created an impact straightaway as he
got rid of Agha Salman on seven. Imam-ul-Haq looked solid at the crease but
needed support from the other end.
Iftikhar Ahmed joined Imam and led the recovery
work. Both kept ticking the scoreboard. Both put 50 between them for the fifth
wicket before Ahmed fell on 30. Imam brought up a well-composed fifty before
falling on 61 in the 36th over. Shadab Khan lower down the order scored a
crucial 39 runs and was well-supported by Naseem Shah (18*) as it helped
Pakistan get to 201 at the end of their 50 overs.
The spinners were brilliant for Afghanistan as
they picked up eight of ten wickets. Mujeeb was fantastic with the ball as he
registered figures of 3/33 in his 10 overs. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid also
chipped in with two scalps apiece. Their bowlers did a good job but their
batters faltered in the chase as they lost the game by 142 runs.
Stick around for the post-match presentation.