Afghanistan overcame late nerves within the closing overs to beat Pakistan by seven wickets within the second T20 worldwide on Sunday and take an unassailable 2-0 lead within the three-game sequence.
Needing 30 off the final three overs, and 22 from the final two, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi hit a six every off tempo bowler Naseem Shah within the penultimate over to cut back the goal to 5 runs.
Zadran then hit the profitable boundary off Zaman Khan’s final over to chase down the 131-run goal with one ball to spare.
“It’s a great honour and pleasure to lead this wonderful team,” mentioned Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan.
“It was a great effort with the ball, and then we took it deep and finished it.”
He added: “I think 130 was a good total. We tried our best to take it deep and finish it. Our strategy was to go out there and make sure you take responsibility. We have players to finish it like Nabi and Najib.”
Pakistan’s 130-6 in 20 overs was constructed round a sedate 57-ball 64 not out by all-rounder Imad Wasim — his maiden T20I half-century.
This was Afghanistan’s first bilateral T20I sequence in opposition to any of the highest six groups — India, England, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
They have beforehand received a T20I sequence every in opposition to the West Indies and Bangladesh and 5 in 5 in opposition to Zimbabwe.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (44 off 49 balls) and Ibrahim Zadran (38 off 40 balls) set the platform throughout their 56-run second wicket stand.
However, their gradual batting left Afghanistan needing to attain 46 off the final 30 balls.
Najibullah (23) and Nabi (14) remained unbeaten to seal the victory.
“Our motive for this series was to check out talented young players and we have to back them in the future,” mentioned Pakistan captain Shadab Khan.
Earlier, Pakistan’s restoration was led by Imad who hit two sixes and three boundaries to rescue Pakistan from 63-5 after profitable the toss and batting.
Imad and Shadab (32) added 67 for the sixth wicket.
Pakistan had acquired off to a disastrous begin with left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi claiming Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, each for nought, within the first over of the innings.
Farooqi completed with 2-19 in his 4 overs.
Shafique has now been dismissed for nought on 4 successive events in 5 T20Is since making his debut in November 2020.
Mohammad Haris hit six and two boundaries in his nine-ball 15, whereas Tayyab Tahir scored a 23-ball 13.
The stockily constructed Azam Khan, who rose to fame along with his energy hitting within the current Pakistan Super League, fell to spinner Rashid Khan, scoring only one after his nought within the first sport.
Shadab, who’s deputising for rested skipper Babar Azam, hit three boundaries in his 25-ball knock.
Imad’s earlier better of 47 had come in opposition to Sri Lanka in Lahore in 2019.
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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