Pakistan won by three wicket in a nail bitter against Afghanistan. Malik’s experience thrashed Afghanistan’s inexperience.

Before that, Imam and Babar sensible 154-run partnership took Pakistan out of danger.

Pakistan won the match by three wickets

Pakistan’s Inning

Pakistan needs 10 runs in the last over.

Just after smashing a six Rahid Khan trapped Asif Ali in the very next ball.

Poor judgement by Sarfraz, missed a full-toss, directly hit the stumps and Pakistan lost half of it’s side.

Afghanistan take control with another crucial wicket of Haris Sohail in 258 chase. Haris is done by the googly. It’s a short ball that he expects to spin into him from off stump, so he’s opened his stance and is looking to pull with that angle towards midwicket.

Imam-ul-Haq falls for 80 after being run out as Najibullah Zadran provides the breakthrough after Pakistan cross 150-run mark. The 154-run stand for the second wicket is broken, while Afghans’ spin-wizard Rashid Khan took Babar’s wicket on the last ball of 35th over. He scored 66 off 94 balls.

Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam have taken the charge, Imam struck his second ODI fifty off 74 balls, while 23-year-old right-handed batsman Babar also made half-ton off 79 balls.

Pakistan have lost a very early wicket of Fakhar Zaman in 258 chase. Zaman didn’t take the review. He was looking to sweep the full ball outside.

Pakistan need 258 runs to win the game. Shahidi batted sensibly and took his team till the end. Pakistan have been guilty of poor fielding and have dropped a number of catches throughout the day.

Afghanistan’s Inning

Back-to-back boundaries, Afghans make trouble for Pakistan as Shahidi an inch away to complete his ODI century.

Hasan Ali hit the stumps and celebrates. Afghans loss sixth wicket in the depth overs.

Yet another one by Shaheen, Hasan Ali made no mistake takes an easy catch of Mohammad Nabi.

Finally Shaheen succeed to get his first wicket. Directly hit the stumps, no more short-pitch deliveries.

Another catch dropped, this time Haris Sohail who misjudged the bowl in the air. Unlucky

Shaheen Shah Afridi struggles for a wicket.

Fifty comes up for both Asghar and Shahidi with seven wickets in hand. Absolutely brilliant and a patient innings by the duo.

Asghar has been pretty quite after that famous first-ball six but he tees off now, hitting a six and a four off

Nawaz of all people in the 36th over 143/3.

Nawaz strikes again as in the 26th over of the first inning he breaks the top-order’s partnership. He bagged the third wicket of Rahmat Shah who scored 36-runs.

Rahmat and Shahidi are put up a fight, all the more commendable against Hasan Ali’s fire.

Pakistan have gone short to push the batsmen back in the crease.

Spin wizard Nawaz reaped the rewards of tying the two batsman down.

In the first five overs,

Pakistan failed to get any wicket as Afghani openers gave a tough time to the boys in green.

Back-to-back two catches dropped in the debutant Shaheen’s over.

Inshanullah didn’t get hold of it and clipped it straight to Zaman at mid-on, who stuck out only one hand, juggled it and dropped it.

In the very next delivery,

Usman Shinwari put in the dive at fine leg inside the circle and got hands to it, but couldn’t hold on.

TOSS

Afghanistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan.

Playing XI

Pakistan have made three changes in today’s game. Pacer Mohammad Amir have been replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf by Haris Sohail and Shahdab Khan by Muhammad Nawaz.

On the other hand, Najibullah Zadran comes in for Samiuallah Shenwari for Afghanistan.

Pakistan XI:

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Muhammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Afghanistan XI:

Mohammad Shahzad(w), Ihsanullah Janat, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan(c), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

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