On a thrilling Thursday at Hambantota, Naseem Shah pulled off a sensational move, hitting a boundary off the second-to-last delivery. This brave feat helped Pakistan to secure a heart-stopping one-wicket triumph over a tenacious Afghanistan side that couldn’t catch a break.
Pakistan grabbed an insurmountable 2-0 advantage in the three-game series after a stunning win. The final match is expected to take place in Colombo this coming Saturday. Afghanistan, helped by Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s outstanding 151 off 150 balls, managed to reach 300-5 in their allotted 50 overs.
The last minutes of Pakistan’s chase were nothing short of enthralling. With 27 runs needed to win, Shadab Khan’s boundary and six off Abdul Rahman’s last two deliveries in the 49th overdrew them closer. The excitement intensified when, in the penultimate over, Farooqi ran out Shadab with his first delivery due to the batsman going too far down the wicket, resulting in a Mankad dismissal. Yet, Naseem’s boundaries on the first and fifth balls of the over sealed the victory.
Naseem had pulled off a similar feat against the same bowler in the previous year’s Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament at Sharjah. This time, his two sixes in the penultimate over ensured Pakistan’s victory by a single wicket. Shadab’s important 35-ball 48, containing three boundaries and a six, revived Pakistan’s chase when they were struggling at 258-7.
Prior to this recovery, opener Imam-ul-Haq’s patient 91 off 105 balls had created the platform. He built a good 52-run partnership with fellow opener Fakhar Zaman and an extra 118-run stand for the second wicket with captain Babar Azam, who added 53 off 66 balls with six boundaries.
Nonetheless, Pakistan had a setback, losing five wickets for just 41 runs after being comfortably positioned at 170-1 in the 31st over. Azam fell prey to Farooqi’s brilliant delivery, while spinner Mohammad Nabi claimed Agha Salman and Usama Mir in the same over. A run-out lost Mohammad Rizwan his wicket, and spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Haq in the following over. Afghanistan’s revival was short-lived.
In the earlier innings, the 21-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran formed a spectacular opening combination of 227 runs, with Zadran contributing 80 off 101 balls. Afghanistan, deciding to bat after winning the toss, exhibited a dramatic turnaround from their previous game, where they were swept out for 59 by a tough Pakistani attack.
Gurbaz, who had earlier scored 145 against Bangladesh, played wonderfully with 14 boundaries and three sixes. Zadran again showcased his batting prowess with six boundaries and two sixes. The opening partnership was finally broken by spinner Usama Mir in the 40th over when Zadran was caught at long off. Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Gurbaz in the 45th over, ending with figures of 2-58. Rashid’s brief appearance was halted by Shaheen as well. Mohammad Nabi’s run-a-ball 29 added to Afghanistan’s total of 73 runs in the last ten overs.
