Pakistan vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Report: Gurbaz’s dazzling 151 went in vain as Pakistan overcame Afghanistan in a last-over thriller in the second ODI. With this win, Pakistan pocketed the 3-ODI series 2-0, updating their unbeaten record against Afghanistan to 6 ODIs.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Report: A Thrilling, Dramatic Final Over
According to Pakistan vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Report, Pakistan needed 11 runs from the last six, and they had two wickets in hand, including Shadab Khan, who was in the mood to score 48 runs at that time. The match could swing anywhere, and somehow, Pakistan sensed a flair for victory, and it only lasted till the over resumed. Then, as always, drama unfolds. Pakistan lost Shadab Khan to a run-out after a thrilling intervention by Fazalhaq Farooqi right at the start of the over. But according to Pakistan vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Report, Naseem Shah, who wasn’t affected by all these, smashed a four to revive Pakistan’s hope.
As per Pakistan vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Report, Six were needed from three, and Haris Rauf was on strike. And these are the moments when you don’t want to make any mistakes. But these are the moments when you tend to make more mistakes, and this time, the bad luck was on Afghanistan’s side. A misfile at a time like that cost them three runs.
Two balls and three runs to go, and Pakistan had just a wicket in hand. Heart pounds and pin-drop silence: Naseem Shah flew the ball over the top and went past the boundary line, a sixer, and a hurray to Pakistan.
A Magnificent Century That Went in Vain
Gurbaz’s century had a lot of specialties. With 151, he is the first wicketkeeper to score more than 150 runs in ODIs against Pakistan. Also, it was the third-highest score by any batter in ODIs in Sri Lanka. But again, Pakistan’s croc’s tail knocked this down as well as Afghanistan’s hope for a win.
Babar and Imam-ul-Haq’s Century Partnership
300 is not a small score in ODIs. And as lethal as Afghanistan’s bowling attack is, it seemed that Pakistan might fall down before climbing to the top. But according to Pakistan vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Report, their man, Babar, along with Imam, made a beautiful century partnership, and Pakistan rose to 170 for 1. Cruise control puts Afghanistan under a lot of pressure. But then it happened. Babar is down! Oh, wait! He isn’t the last. Pakistan batters rallied back to the pavilion, one by one, and they crumbled and fumbled to reach 211/6. Afghanistan’s spinners rolled over Pakistani batters and choked them.
After Ifthikar Ahmed’s departure, Shadab stood strong and kept his composure to sail Pakistan right to the doorstep of victory. After his departure in the final over, Naseem took the chair, a sixer to the triumph.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi took 2 wickets at the expense of 58 runs. For Afghanistan, Farooqi took three for 69. While bowlers did well at one point for Afghanistan, Abdul Rahman’s inexperience slipped a lot of unnecessary runs, which in turn caused their close defeat. But again, regardless of the loss, Afghanistan would take a lot of positives from the match, which would help them in the upcoming Asia Cup
Score Summary
Afghanistan Innings: 300/5 in 50 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 151, Ibrahim Zadran 80; Shaheen Afridi 2-58)
Pakistan Innings: 302/9 in 49.5 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 91, Babar Azam 53; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-69)
Pakistan won by one wicket.
For more, check out: Pakistan vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Report
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