Naseem Shah
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Pak v Afg, Match 4, Super 4, Asia Cup: Naseem Shah seals Pakistan win and final date with two sixes
Pakistan sealed their place in the final of Asia Cup 2022 with a thrilling one-wicket win over Afghanistan in Super 4 stage of the tournament at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday night.
Pakistan has set up the final with Sri Lanka on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. Pakistan's win knocked out both Afghanistan and India from Asia Cup 2022.
Afghanistan asked to bat posted 129 for six in their 20 overs and in response Pakistan chased down the target in 19.2 overs to finish on 131 for nine.
Earlier, Afghanistan got off to a brisk start as both openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put on 36. Then there was a brief collapse. Only Ibrahim Zadran held the innings together with a 37 ball 35. The innings collapsed swiftly as Afghanistan slipped from 78 for two to 91 for five. Towards the end the innings slipped further as the scoring rate slowed down. Rashid Khan played a nice cameo, but that was not enough as Afghanistan finished on 129 for six in their 20 overs. For Pakistan the best bowler was fast bowler Haris Rauf (2-26).
In their response Pakistan lost their captain Babar Azam off the first ball he faced. Then Mohamad Rizwan added 27 runs for the third wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (30). Thereafter, Shadab Khan promoted in the order took charge of the chase as he made 36 off 26 balls with three sixes and one four. Then there was a collapse as Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals. Asif Ali struck couple of sixes to bring the chase closer. Pakistan lost couple of wickets each in the 18th over and 19th over. In the final over, Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled two full tosses as Naseem Shah struck two successive sixes to seal the win. For Afghanistan the successful bowlers were Farooqi (3-31), Fareed Malik (3-31) and Rashid Khan (2-25).
Match Summary
India: 129-6 (20)
Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz-3.5 ov), 2-43 (Hazratullah Zazai-4.5 ov), 3-78 (Karim Janat-11.2 ov), 4-91 (Najibullah Zadran-13.6 ov), 5-91 (Mohammad Nabi-14.1 ov), 6-104 (Ibrahim Zadran-16.3 ov)
Afghanistan: 131-9 (19.2)
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Babar Azam-0.2 ov), 2-18 (Fakhar Zaman-3.1 ov), 3-45 (Mohammad Rizwan-8.4 ov), 4-87 (Iftikhar Ahmed-15.3 ov), 5-97 (Shadab Khan-16.2 ov), 6-105 (Mohammad Nawaz-17.1 ov), 7-109 (Khushdil Shah-17.6 ov), 8-110 (Haris Rauf-18.2 ov), 9-118 (Asif Ali-18.5 ov)
Result: Pakistan won by one wicket
Top Tournament Stats
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Hasnain
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Match Details
Toss: Pakistan, elected to field
Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Start time: 1400 hrs GMT
Match officials: Anil Chaudhary, Jayaraman Madanagopal (On-field Umpires); Gazi Sohel (TV Umpire); Raveendra Wimalasiri (Reserve Umpire); Andy Pycroft (Match-referee)
© Cricket World 2022
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