The extraordinary encounter concluded as a last-over thriller, leading to Pakistan securing a nail-biting one-wicket triumph on Thursday.
The second ODI witnessed a prolific conflict between the 2 sides, amassing a complete of 602 runs, setting a brand new excessive for mixed runs scored in ODIs involving Pakistan and Afghanistan. With this hard-fought victory, Pakistan secured an insurmountable 2-Zero lead within the ODI collection towards Afghanistan.
Because the second innings reached its fruits, the dying overs unfolded in a sequence of heart-stopping moments, every extra dramatic than the final. Pakistan exhibited exceptional composure beneath stress, clinching the victory with the narrowest of margins – only one ball and a solitary wicket to spare.
On this tense situation, Naseem Shah emerged because the thorn in Afghanistan’s aspect as soon as once more, stopping what may have probably been their first-ever ODI victory over Pakistan.
Earlier within the day, Afghanistan have been helped to a stable complete of 300/5, courtesy of an excellent 151 from Gurbaz. This was their highest complete towards their regional rivals, Pakistan.
Gurbaz’s knock, which included 14 boundaries and three sixes, noticed him take the Pakistan assault to the cleaners. Along with Ibrahim Zadran (80), he added 227 runs for the primary wicket, Afghanistan’s second-highest partnership for any wicket.
This was the best rating by an Afghanistan batter towards Pakistan and was additionally the first-ever century by an Afghanistan participant towards the nation. Their earlier highest particular person effort was Hashmatullah Shahidi’s unbeaten 97.
This was Gurbaz’s fifth ODI ton, and it got here in merely 23 innings. With this he turned the third quickest participant to 5 ODI tons of, overtaking Babar Azam (25 innings), and sitting behind the joint-first place holders, Quinton de Kock (19) and Imam-Ul-Haq (19).
His century was additionally the primary time {that a} wicketkeeper scored a 150 in males’s ODI towards Pakistan. The earlier finest by a wicket-keeper was MS Dhoni’s 148 at Vishakhapatnam.
After being bundled out for merely 59 within the first ODI, Afghanistan confirmed a terrific struggle with the bat of their second match within the collection. The sturdy begin from Gurbaz and Zadran was adopted by a slight wobble in direction of the dying, however Mohammed Nabi’s run-a-ball 29 helped them contact 300 on the finish of their innings.
In reply, Pakistan have been cruising alongside at one level with the partnership between Imam-ul-Haq (91) and Babar Azam (53) who stitched a 118-run partnership for the second wicket.
Nonetheless, the wicket of the skipper triggered a collapse that noticed Pakistan lose 5 wickets for 41 runs. Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed steadied the ship however as wickets stored tumbling, Afghanistan inched nearer to victory.
Needing 27 off 12, Shadab smashed a six and a 4 off the final two balls of the penultimate over. Off the very first ball of the final over, Shadab was run out on the non-striker’s finish whereas backing up by Fazalhaq Farooqi.
With only one wicket in hand, Naseem Shah, as he did towards Afghanistan within the Asia Cup final 12 months, got here to Pakistan’s rescue to win it for his workforce with a ball to spare.
Pakistan go into the ultimate ODI in Colombo on 26 August with an unassailable 2-Zero lead.
(With inputs from IANS)
