Sports Reporter
Pakistan beat Afghanistan by three wickets in their match of the ICC World Cup Cricket at Leeds in England on Saturday.
Electing to bat first, Afghanistan scored 227 for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs.
In reply, Pakistan reached the winning spot making 230 for the loss of seven wickets when they had just two balls to spare. Pakistan had a poor start as opener Fakhar Zaman (0) was trapped leg before wicket by Mujeeb Ur Rahman when Pakistan’s total was naught.
Then opener Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam repaired the damage adding together 72 runs for the second wicket partnership before Imam-ul-Haq was stumped out by Ikram Alikhil off Mohammad Nabi when Pakistan’s score was 72 for the loss of two wickets. Imam made 36 from 51 balls featuring four fours. After Imam’s dismissal, Babar Azam could stay at the crease for a short period as he was cleanly bowled out by Mohammad Nabi when Pakistan’s total was 81 for the loss of three wickets.
Babar hit a sparkle 45. His 51-ball innings saw five fours.
Second-down Mohammad Hafeez and third-down Haris Sohel added together 40 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Hafeez (19) was caught at the point by Hashmatullah Shahidi off Mujeeb Ur Rahman when Pakistan’s score was 121 for the loss of four wickets.
Haris Sohel ( 27) was trapped leg before wicket by Rashid Khan when Pakistan’s total was 142 for the loss of five wickets.
Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed (18) was run out by a joint-effort of Najibullah Zadran and wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil when Pakistan’s score was 156 for the loss of six wickets.
Six-down Shadab Khan (11) was run out by a joint-effort of Gulbadin Naib and Ikram Alikhil when Pakistan’s total was 206 for the loss of seven wickets. Imad Wasim remained unbeaten with 49 and helped his team to earn the nail-biting victory.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi got two wickets each. Afghanistan faced an early debacle as they lost three wickets for 57 runs.
Then Asghar Afghan and Ikram Alikhil put on together 64 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Asghar was bowled out by Shadab Khan when Afghanistan’s score was 121 for the loss of four wickets.
Asghar hit a polished 42. His 35-ball innings saw two sixes and three fours.
Second-dawn Ikram (24) was caught at the long-on by Mohammad Hafeez off Imad Wasim when Afghanistan’s total was 125 for the loss of five wickets.
Earlier, opener Rahmat Shah made 35 from 43 balls hitting five fours beyond the ropes.
Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran added together 42 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Nabi (16) was caught at the fine leg by Mohammad Amir off Wahab Riaz when Afghanistan’s score was 167 for the loss of six wickets.
After Nabi’s departure, Najibullah Zadran and Samiullah Shinwari contributed together 35 runs in the seven-wicket stand before Zadran was bowled out by Shaheen Shah Afridi when the team’s total was 202 for the loss of seven wickets.
Zadran hit a fine 42. His 54-ball innings was studded with six fours.
Seventh-down Rashid Khan ( 8) was caught at the cover by Fakhar Zaman off Shaheen Shah Afridi when Afghanistan’s score was 210 for the loss of eight wickets.
Eighth-down Hamid Hassan (1) was bowled out by Wahab Riaz when Afghanistan’s total was 219 for the loss of nine wickets.
Shaheen Shah Afridi captured four wickets at the cost of 47 runs, while Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim bagged a pair of wickets each instead of 29 and 48 runs respectively.
Shadab Khan got one wicket conceding 44 runs.
