Pakistan’s tailenders have saved their nerve to eke out a one-wicket victory over Afghanistan in a tense high-scoring second one-day worldwide.
No.10 batter Naseem Shah, who completed on 10 not out, edged seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi for a successful boundary off the penultimate ball as Pakistan reached 9-302 to take a decisive 2-0 lead within the three-match collection.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s epic 151 and a significant 80 by his opening accomplice Ibrahim Zadran had earlier offered Afghanistan a formidable complete of 5-300.
“All credit to the boys,” mentioned Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who scored 53 and mixed in a 118-run second wicket stand with Imam-ul-Haq (91).
“We just tried to build the partnership when me and Imam were playing, just wanted to play long and see where we stand after 40 overs. We knew we could chase 80 or 90 in the last 10 overs.”
Shadab Khan, who made 48 off 35 balls, introduced Pakistan again within the chase off the final two balls within the penultimate over when he smashed two full tosses off quick bowler Abdul Rahman for a boundary and a six.
Needing 11 off the ultimate over, Farooqi ran out Shadab on the non-striker’s finish because the batter moved out of his crease earlier than the bowler had bowled.
But Shah and No. 11 Haris Rauf saved their nerve and shattered Afghanistan’s dream to beat Pakistan for the primary time in an ODI.
“It is hurting because we had enough runs, but at the last moment they took the game away from us,” Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahid mentioned.
Earlier, Gurbaz and Zadran raised Afghanistan’s second highest-ever stand for any wicket in an ODI once they compiled an authoritative 227-run opening partnership.
It was a sea change in Afghanistan’s batting efficiency after they had been bundled out for 59 contained in the 20 overs within the first recreation on Tuesday and misplaced by 142 runs.
Gurbaz struggled with ache in his forearm quickly after finishing his half-century off 72 balls.
He wanted an additional 50 balls to finish his century after which upped the scoring price by smashing quick bowler Haris Rauf for 4 successive boundaries in a single over.
Imam and Babar saved Pakistan within the run-chase after Fakhar Zaman (30) was bowled by Farooqi.
Ace legspinner Rashid Khan ought to have gotten the wickets of each batters, however first he dropped a low catch of Imam off his personal bowling after which Mohammad Nabi could not react in time within the lone slip when he had an opportunity of ending Babar’s knock.
Shadab and Shah’s late assault offered Pakistan a nail-biting victory as Afghanistan seamers bowled wayward deliveries within the demise overs.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
