Agency :
Pakistan’s tailender Naseem Shah hit two straight sixes to gift Pakistan a seesawing, low-scoring thrilling one-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday in Sharjah and set up an Asia Cup title clash with Sri Lanka.
The 19-year-old bowler said after the match that he had the belief to hit big shots, which he has been practicing during net sessions.
“When I went to bat I had the belief to hit the sixes. I practice (hitting sixes) and I knew they would bowl yorkers as they had the field up. There needs to be belief, we keep practising in the nets and I also changed my bat, it worked,” Naseem said after the match.
Afghanistan didn’t have a meaningful chance until Fazalhaq Farooqi’s double-strike in the 18th over.
Fareed Ahmad sent back Haris Rauf and the dangerous Asif Ali with 21 needed from two overs. With No. 10 Naseem and No. 11 Mohammad Hasnain at the crease, Pakistan needed 11 from the last over.
“When I went in Asif was there and my job was to give him strike but once he got out the onus was on me. There is very little belief when you are nine down but I had the self-belief and this will be a memorable game for me. This was an important match as we knew a win today and we would be in the final” he added.
The unbeaten stand of 13 between Naseem & Hasnain is the highest tenth wicket partnership involving a number 10 and 11 in a successful run chase in T20Is.
