CWC 2019: PAK vs AFG Review – Pakistan hold nerves in last-over thriller

Imad Wasim sealed a sensational last-over victory for Pakistan over Afghanistan at Headingley, Leeds. Delivering the last over, Afghan captain Gulbadin Naib sent down full tosses which were dealt duly. After losing another close game, Afghanistan remain winless in the tournament despite fighting hard. Pakistan were relieved to gain two points and now find themselves in the top four. Pakistan’s three-wicket win now puts host England under pressure.

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Afghan spinners trouble Pakistan

Losing captain Sarfaraz Ahmed via a run out on 156/6, Pakistan were pushed back in the corner by Afghan spinners. On the helpful Leeds track, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rehman bowled with vigour and made life difficult for the opposition. Losing Hameed Hasan after bowling only two overs did not create too many problems as the twirlers dominated the turf.

Chasing 228, Pakistan lost their opener Fakhar Zaman early to Mujeeb. Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam built a solid partnership and threatened to take the game away. Off-spinner Nabi in his super spell of 23/2 sent back both. Mujeeb and Rashid kept the batsmen under control. Defending 46 runs from 30 balls, Afghanistan were in a dominating position.

Naib squanders the advantage

Gulbadin Naib brought himself into the attack and the move turned the game on its head. Imad smashed three fours while collecting 18 runs from the over. The target came down to 28 runs from 24 balls. Wahab Riaz, batting heroically despite the hairline fracture, struck 15 from nine balls and remained not out till the end. Imad ticked off six runs from the first four balls of the last over to complete a thrilling win.

Rahmat and Asghar build a steady base

Choosing to bat first, Afghanistan began cautiously by taking just nine runs off the first three overs. Soon the openers, Naib and Rahmat, started freeing their arms and earned a flurry of boundaries. Afridi struck on successive balls to peg the Afghans back. Rahmat steadied the ship with a knock of 35. His fall at the end of the 12th over brought out former Afghanistan captain at the crease. Asghar Afghan played positive cricket and his brief stint of 42 from 35 balls provided the impetus to the innings.

Pakistan control death overs

In the middle overs, Pakistan gained the upper hand by choking down the run rate. In the overs 19 to 33, Afghans could add only 44 runs. Nabi and Najibullah revived the scoring rate as the death overs approached. Sarfaraz Ahmed rotated his pace bowlers cleverly and did not allow any easy runs. Afghanistan resorted to batting out full 50 overs and they posted 227/9 on the board in doing so. Afridi was the leading wicket-taker with his spell of 4/47.