In the ICC ODI World Cup, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan for the first time in a major upset and won at the event for the second time. Afghanistan easily chased down Pakistan’s target of 283 runs in 49 overs for the loss of 2 wickets, with Ibrahim Zadran scoring 87 runs.
The Green Shirts had a good start against Afghanistan, with openers Abdullah Shafiq and Imam-ul-Haq forming a partnership of more than 50 runs, but then Pakistan suffered their first loss at 56, as Imam ul Haq got caught on the score of 17 by Azmatullah.
After the fall of one wicket, a partnership of 54 runs was established between Babar and Abdullah Shafiq, but then Abdullah returned to the pavilion after scoring 58 runs.
Muhammad Rizwan also fell to Noor Ahmed after putting up eight runs, while Saud Shakeel was dismissed after scoring 25. Captain Babar Azam completed a half-century but he too returned to the pavilion after scoring 74 runs off 92 balls. In the final overs, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan batted responsibly, with the former scoring 40 runs off 27 balls and the latter putting up 40 runs off 38 balls. Shaheen Afridi remained unbeaten on three runs.
Thus, Pakistan scored 282 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs.
Chasing Pakistan’s target of 283 runs, Afghan batsmen attacked Pakistan bowlers from the start, with both openers Rahmanullah Garbaz and Ibrahim Zadran batting brilliantly to give the Afghan team 130 runs. The green shirts showed poor fielding due to which the bowlers could not put pressure on the opposition team.
However, opener Garbaz scored 65 and Ibrahim got out after 87 runs. However, even after the loss of two wickets, the Afghan team did not come under any pressure, and captain Hashmatullah and Rahmat Shah batted responsibly and gave Afghanistan a win.
Hashmatullah put up 48 and Rahmat Shah remained unbeaten while scoring 77 runs. Afghanistan achieved Pakistan’s target in 49 overs with the loss of two wickets.
Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi took one wicket each for Pakistan.
