Dubai | Pakistan won against Afghanistan in the second match of Super Four in Asia Cup. Batting first, Afghanistan scored only 129 runs for the loss of six wickets. In reply, Pakistan scored 131 runs for the loss of nine wickets with four balls to spare. Pakistan won by one wicket. In the last over, when Afghanistan was counting on victory, tailer Naseem Shah hit two consecutive sixes to give Pakistan victory. With this, India’s final entry was closed.
The Afghan bowling line-up led by Rashid Khan, Mujibur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqui and Farid Ahmad literally overwhelmed Pakistan. The Afghan bowlers managed to keep the contest tight by being stingy in conceding runs and taking wickets at regular intervals. Fazal Haq Farooqi took three wickets conceding 19 runs in three overs. Farid Ahmed also took three wickets. Rashid Khan conceded 25 runs in four overs and took two wickets.
As usual, Pakistan captain and opener Babar Azam could not shine. This time he became a Sampoojyan. Opener Muhammad Rizwan scored only 20 runs. Iftikhar Ahmad scored 30 runs and Shadab Khan scored 36 runs. Naseem Shah scored 14 runs in four balls.
Ibrahim Zadran became the top scorer with 35 runs in the Afghan batting line-up. Tail opener Rashid Khan scored 18 not out and opener Hazratullah Sazai scored 21 runs. Pakistan’s Haris Rauf took two wickets.