Asia Cup 2022: Pakistan thrash Afghanistan by one wicket in breathtaking game

Sharjah: In a breathtaking game, the green shirts beat Afghanistan by one wicket in the Super 4s match of the Asia Cup 2022. 

Afghanistan had earlier set 130 target for Pakistan in the Super 4s match of Asia Cup 2022 that is being played at Sharjah cricket stadium today.

The match was played at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium. Shadab Khan struck 36 runs.

Afghanis struck 129 for 6 in 20 overs.

The match appeared to be in the bag after Afghanistan were dismissed for 130, however, Mohammad Nabi and Co. gave the Green Shirts a run for their money with their exceptional bowling.

Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam in the first six overs and when they lost in-form Mohammad Rizwan at the end of the ninth over with just 48 runs on the board, it seemed that the Men in Green were in trouble.

Afghanistan’s bowlers continued piling up the pressure but Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan’s 42-run partnership helped ensure that by the end of the 16th over, the target was within reach.

The tide turned in Afghanistan’s favour after the partnership was broken and Pakistan lost quick wickets cheaply.

In the last two overs, Pakistan needed 21 off 12 balls and had just three wickets in hand. In the second last over, Fareed Ahmad took two wickets, including the crucial wicket of Asif Ali.

By the end of his over, Pakistan needed 11 off 6 balls and just had their numbers 10 and 11 — Naseem and Mohammad Hasnain — on the crease.

However, Naseem’s two sixes from the first two balls of the penultimate helped Pakistan snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The one-wicket win meant that Pakistan will now take on Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. Haris Rauf got two wickets, while Shadab, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Husnain and Muhammad Nawaz took one wicket each.

Ibrahim Zardan struck 35 runs followed by Hazratullah Zazai who struck 21 runs. 

 Fast bowler Haris Rauf led an inspired Pakistan bowling attack that limited Afghanistan to 129-6 on Wednesday as they look to seal a spot in the Asia Cup final. 

Rauf took 2-26 after Pakistan elected to field first knowing victory would secure a place in Sunday's final against Sri Lanka and knock India out of the T20 tournament.

Afghanistan struggled to put together any significant partnerships, with Ibrahim Zadran (35) the lone batsman to put up some genuine fight.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz started cautiously before hitting pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain for two straight sixes at the end of the second over.

Hazratullah Zazai joined in with a few boundaries but soon lost his partner after Rauf bowled Gurbaz with an angling delivery that clipped the off stump.

Zazai's innings was cut short by Hasnain who bowled the left-handed opener on 21.

Ibrahim and Karim Janat attempted to rebuild against a disciplined Pakistan spin attack, which kept the scoring to under seven an over.

Janat looked to launch left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz into the stands but succeeded only in skying to long-on.

Afghanistan kept losing wickets and fast bowler Naseem Shah bowled Mohammad Nabi for a first-ball duck in the captain's 100th T20 international as Afghanistan slipped to 91-5.

Ibrahim took Afghanistan past 100 but soon fell caught behind to Hasnain.

Rashid Khan added some runs to the total, hitting Rauf for a four and six in the final over to finish unbeaten on 18 off 15 balls.

-- ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP