Afghanistan put up a brilliant batting and bowling display to hand Pakistan a stunning eight-wicket defeat in the Cricket World Cup on Monday. Chasing a target of 283 runs, Afghanistan were lifted by Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77 not out) and Rehmanullah Gurbaz (65) as they scored 286-2 in 49 overs.
Pakistan made 282-7 in 50 overs with 74 from skipper Babar Azam and 58 from opener Abdullah Shafiq but the total did not prove strong enough for a clinical Afghanistan.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, with a 45-ball 48 not out, reached the winning boundary as Afghanistan improved on their highest ODI chase of 274 against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai in 2014.
The win was Afghanistan’s first ever over Pakistan in eight ODIs, and came eight days after their shock win over defending champions England in Delhi.
After scoring the historic win, the Afghan players celebrated the victory in the locker room in a unique way, as Rashid Khan danced with the other players.
This is the second time the Afghan team has caused a major upset in the ongoing mega event as the Warrior States men defeated defending champions England by 69 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65), Ibrahim Zadran (87) and Rahma Shah (77)* starred with the bat to help Afghanistan register a shock victory.
Chasing the target of 283 runs, Afghanistan’s dangerous openers got off to a flying start, scoring 60 runs without loss on the opening power play.
In a stunning display of boundary batting, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran each scored fifty as Afghanistan’s openers brought the attack back to Pakistan.
“They hurt us. We got a good total, but in bowling we were not up to the mark. All credit to the Afghan team, the way they bowled. We couldn’t take wickets in the middle overs,” Babar said. The bowlers did not reach the right lengths – especially the spinners.”
The crowd applauded the jubilant Afghan players at Chidambaram Stadium as they took a victory lap with superstar Rashid Khan draped around his shoulder.
It was Pakistan’s first ODI loss against Afghanistan, which beat their previous highest successful ODI chase of 274 made against the United Arab Emirates nine years ago.
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Updated: October 23, 2023, 11:08 PM IST
