Afghanistan make history, thrash Pakistan by 8 wickets in CWC2023

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan registered their second stunning win of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to beat Pakistan for the first time ever, winning by eight wickets in Chennai on Monday.

Set a target of 293 to win, Afghanistan’s top three all hit half-centuries as they produced a high-quality run chase to reach the target with eight wickets in hand and an over to spare, according to ICC website.

Some big hits from Iftikhar Ahmed (40 from 27) lifted Pakistan to a competitive score after Abdullah Shafique (58) and Babar Azam (74) had set the platform.

But the target proved not quite big enough, as Afghanistan pulled off the historic chase.

Afghanistan made their first breakthrough when Azmatullah Omarzai struck off the very first ball of the 11th over. A short delivery was mistimed by Imam (17) and pulled into the arms of Naveen-ul-Haq at mid-wicket.

Imam’s departure brought captain Babar to the crease, and he started in a positive fashion alongside Shafique.

The spin-heavy middle overs saw Afghanistan get control of the game, with the Pakistan batters finding it tough to read the variations of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, and the duo beating the bat on several occasions.

Shafique eventually fell to Noor for 58, going for a hasty sweep to try and up the rate and missing the ball, with the lbw decision given on review.

Noor Ahmad finished with stand-out figures of 3/49, while Noor, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi all finished with economies under five-an-over having each completed their full allocation of ten overs.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz set the tempo early with a 53-ball 65 alongside fellow opener Ibrahim Zadran (87), before the excellent Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi finished the job with crucial contributions of 77* and 48* respectively.

Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side is known for their sharp bowling, especially spin, but today the team displayed the quality of batting on the slow pitch of Chennai and punished Pakistan bowlers like never before.

The result leaves both teams on four points after five matches of the tournament, with both still in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

sa