Pakistan thrashed by 8 wickets
In a breathtaking contest that left cricket fans on the edge of their seats, Afghanistan pulled off a stunning victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in the 22nd match of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The Afghans chased down their highest-ever ODI total against any team in the competition, securing a remarkable eight-wicket win with just six balls to spare. This victory also dealt a severe blow to Pakistan, marking their third consecutive loss in the tournament.
The stage was set in Chennai, and the fans were treated to an electrifying spectacle of cricket. Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmed played a pivotal role in the first innings, picking up three key wickets to restrict Pakistan to 282 for 7, dismissing Babar Azam, Mohamed Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique.
The Afghans’ chase was headlined by the opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who forged a scintillating partnership of 130 runs. This partnership was their highest-ever in World Cup history for Afghanistan and laid the foundation for the historic win.
Pakistan’s fielding was less than stellar, and Afghanistan capitalized on the opportunities presented to them. Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah furthered the charge with valuable contributions, but it was Rahman Shah who out shone the rest, reaching the crease when it mattered most and first off the job.
In the end, Afghanistan emerged victorious, securing the win with 6 balls to spare and 8 wickets in hand. This triumph saw Afghanistan leap from the 10th spot in the tournament table to the 6th position. The man of the match was awarded to Ibrahim Zadran, who scored a brilliant 87 off 113 balls, anchoring Afghanistan’s chase.
Noor Ahmed also made a name for himself on his World Cup debut, delivering his best ODI figures yet. This win was a long time coming for Afghanistan, who had previously lost all eight of their matches against Pakistan.
Chief Scores:
Pakistan – 282 for 7 in 50 Overs (Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique 58, Ifthikar Ahmed 40, Noor Ahmad 3 for 49, Naveen Ul-Haq 2 for 52, Mohammad Nabi 1 for 31)
Afghanistan – 286 for 2 in 49 Overs (Ibrahim Zadran 87, Rahmat Shah 77, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 65, Hasan Ali 1 for 44, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1 for 58, Ifthikar Ahmed 0 for 27)
