PAK vs AFG: Afghanistan stun Pakistan to script landmark T20I series triumph
Afghanistan have clinched the ongoing three-match T20I series against Pakistan as they have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead, following a win in the second match in Sharjah on Sunday, March 26. The two sides locked horns at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening. Afghanistan emerged victorious by seven wickets in a hard-fought clash.
After creating history in the first game, Rashid Khan and Co. were all set to extend their dominance in their second meeting with the rival side. Speaking about the match, Pakistan skipper Shadab Khan won the toss and decided to bat in the crucial contest.
However, what followed was Fazalhaq Farooqi striking twice in quick time. He got the vital scalps of Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique on the trot in the first over. Mohammad Haris too was sent back to the pavilion for just 15 runs after he nicked a Naveen-ul-Haq delivery to wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Just when the innings seemed to be going sideways for the Men in Green, Imad Wasim, who came down the order, played a gritty knock. The batter slammed two maximums and three fours to register an unconquered 64 off 57 balls.
On the other hand, skipper Shadab was run-out for 32 off 25 and Pakistan eventually concluded with a meagre 130 runs on the board in their 20 overs. Afghanistan sliced the rival batting line-up like a hot knife through butter as Fazalhaq Farooqi got two wickets to his name whereas Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, and Naveen-ul-Haq got a wicket apiece.
Pakistan fight valiantly during run chase
On a surface that seemed tricky for the batters to score big runs, Afghanistan too found it relatively difficult to chase the game swiftly. In response to the total, Afghanistan got off to a terrific start as Gurbaz slammed 12 runs off the first over bowled by the young pace sensation Naseem Shah.
However, apart from that one big over at the start, Afghanistan were made to grind as they couldn’t get the runs comfortably. Soon, the Men in Green struck the first blow as Usman Ghani was dismissed for just seven runs by Zaman Khan.
Though Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran had the game under control, the duo dealt with singles instead of boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. The two headed back to the dug-out a few overs later at individual scores of 44 and 38 runs respectively.
Pakistan fought hard to keep the rival side under pressure and took the match till the final over with five runs to defend. However, Najibullah Zadran held his nerve on the penultimate ball as he clobbered a boundary to help Afghanistan clinch the contest and subsequently the series.
