Pakistan vs Afghanistan: Match No. 22
ICC World Cup: Match No. 22
Pakistan vs Afghanistan
M.A. Chidambram Stadium, Chennai
23rd October 2023: 14.00 IST
In an important match from Pakistan in view, they are in 5th place in the table after 4 matches with 2 wins. On the other hand, Afghanistan has nothing to lose, but the moral of the Afghan team is high after they beat the World Cup Champ of 2019 in the 13th match of the tournament in Delhi by a decent margin of 69 runs.
If Pakistan wins this match, they will climb to the 4th position in the table, if Australia and Afghanistan win this match, they will climb to 5th or 6th position as per the NRR.
Pakistan won the crucial toss and decided to bat first. A good 50 run partnership came between the Pakistani openers Abdul Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, but in the 11th over of the innings, Imam was caught by Naveen on the bowling of Azmatullah, when his score was 17 and Pakistan lost their 1st wicket on 56.
The Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who could not do much for his team till now, came to crease at his usual No. 3 position and this time he must be thinking of scoring good runs against Afghanistan for his team and for himself too.
Shafique had completed his half century and both the batsmen were looking determined to build the innings. But, soon after completion of his half century, Shafique missed the line completely and the ball kissed his pads. On DRS, the decision was in favour of Afghanistan and Noor Ahmad took his first wicket of the World Cup. Shafique was out on 58 off 75 balls and Pakistan after 22,3 overs, 110/2.
Wicket keeper Rizwan came to bat but could not survive longer and after scoring only 8 runs, he was the next victim of Noor Ahmad, Pakistan now 120/3 after 24.4 overs.
For the 4th wicket, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel added 43 runs. After making 25 runs, Saud Shakeel mistimed a ball from Mohammad Nabi and was caught by Rashid Khan. Pakistan lost a 4th wicket for 163 after 34 overs.
Babar Azam, who was looking in good form, was not comfortable on Noor Ahmad and on a short ball he tried to hit hard on the back foot through extra cover, where Nabi did not mistake and sent Babar Azam to the pavilion on 74 off 92 balls and Pakistan, after 41.5 overs were 206/5. This was the 3rd wicket of Noor Ahmad.
Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmad have accelerated the run rate by adding 73 runs in 7.3 overs. Aftikhar Ahmad scored a good 40 runs on 27 balls with 2 boundaries and 4 magnificent SIXES. On the 2nd ball of the last over of the innings, he was sent back to the pavilion by Naveen-ul-Haq at a total score of 279/9.
On the last ball of the inning, Shadab Khan was caught by Azamatullah off Naveen-ul-Haq and Pakistan had scored 282 runs in the allotted quota of 50 overs. It seems a good defendable score against Afghanistan.
The true Legend of Indian Cricket, who has devoted his whole life for game of Cricket. Paaji Bishan Singh Bedi passes away. May God bless divine soul.
Afghanistan Chasing 283
In the first over of the innings, Afghan Batsmen scored 10 runs and their body language was very positive. The moral was high by their win over England. The bowling attack of Pakistan was looking very average against the Afghanistan batsmen. Fifty came for the opener Ibrahim Zadran on 54 balls and soon after 100 runs partnership came for the first wicket in 15.2 overs.
In the 16th over, the other opener for Afghanistan Rahamanullah Gurbaz has also completed his 50 on just 38 balls. Pakistan gets first breakthrough in 22nd over, when Gurbaz was out on 65 off 53 balls. He has hit 9 beautiful boundaries and one huge SIX. Afghanistan was 130/1 after 21.1 overs.
On number 3, Rahmat Shah came to join the opener Ibrahim Zadran and they have added good 60 runs for the 2nd wicket partnership 74 balls. Afghanistan was 2 down on 190 after 33.3 overs.
Afghanistan required 93 runs on 99 balls to post their 2nd win in this World Cup. Now Hasmatullah Shahidi came to crease to join Rahmat Shah.
After 40 overs, Afghanistan required 62 runs off 60 balls. Run a ball is the need and on the hand Pakistan needing couple of quick wicket to put pressure on Afghan, who are batting very well at this time. In 41st over, Rahmat Shah has also completed his fifty on 58 balls. This is the first occasion, when 3 Afghan batsmen have scored 50 in one innings of World Cup.
Nothing much changed in equation, after 41 overs, 58 needed on 54 balls by Afghanistan. In 42nd over Usma Mir was very accurate and gave only 4 runs in the over. Now 54 runs were required on 48 balls.
Afghan batsmen did some recovery in 43rd overs by scoring 10 runs. Hopes still alive for them. Now, 44 required on 42 balls.
After 44 overs, equation is 35 runs required on 36 balls. 8 wickets are still in hands for Afghanistan,
After 45 overs, interesting equation for Afghanistan, run a ball is the need of hour for Afghanistan. 30 runs on 30 balls.
46th over was not good for Pakistan, when 11 runs came in this over for Afghanistan and now Balls > Runs, only 19 runs are required on 24 balls. Only fall of few quick wickets may save Pakistan from the defeat. On the other hand Afghan just need to take easy singles to get their 2nd victory.
After 47 overs, equation is 11 runs required on 18 balls. Rahmat hits a huge SIX on Hasan Ali to confirm his team’s victory and after 48 overs only 4 runs were required in 2 overs.
On the last ball of 49th over, when Shahidi hits a boundary on Shaheen Afridi over square leg, the joy of Afghan supporters and the team was on high. This can be felt by anyone.
Afghanistan has defeated Pakistan by 8 wickets. Three of the Afghanistan batsmen has scored half century and Shahidi was not out on 48 runs. Afghanistan climbed to 6th position in the tally.
Man of the Match: Ibrahim Zadran
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