CHENNAI: Afghanistan put on a stunning display of tight bowling and powerful hard-hitting to register a massive upset victory over Pakistan in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 here at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday.
Afghanistan created history by trouncing Pakistan for the first time in ODIs, courtesy of a fabulous batting display by Afghanistan’s Top 4 and Noor Ahmed’s outstanding three-wicket haul.
Pakistan’s unhappy knack of slipping on banana skins resurfaced yet again as it turned out to be a red-letter day for the Afghanistan side as they caused a massive upset by trouncing Men in Green by 8 wickets in Chennai.
This is the second time the Afghanistan team caused a massive upset in the ongoing marquee event as the men of the warrior country defeated the defending champions England by 69 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) Ibrahim Zadran (87) and Rahmat Shah (77)* starred with the bat to help Afghanistan register a commanding upset triumph.
Chasing a target of 283, Afghanistan’s dangerous openers made a brisk start, scoring 60 runs without loss in the opening powerplay.
In a spectacular show of boundary-hitting, both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran struck fifty as Afghanistan’s openers took the attack back to Pakistan.
Gurbaz’s attack came to a stop when he was run out by the returning Shaheen Shah Afridi for 65 off 53 balls, giving Pakistan the much-needed breakthrough.
Rahmat Shah joined Ibrahim in dealing with the challenging middle overs, and the pair lowered the necessary runs down to double figures with a comfortable partnership, laying the groundwork for a strong finish in Chennai.
But, Pakistan kept the game very much alive when Hasan Ali provided his team with a big breakthrough as he ended a magnificent innings from Ibrahim Zadran for 87 to set up a nail-biting finish.
In the 41st over of the game, Rahmat Shah also brought up his half-century off 58 balls.
After the 40 over, Rahmat and Hashmattullah Shah shone through as the pressure mounted in the late innings. Rahmat and Hashmattulah led their team home in style, triggering joyous scenes among the Afghanistan squad.
Earlier, Babar Azam top-scored with 74 as Pakistan followed their blueprint to post 282/7 at a spin-friendly Chennai. Despite considerable pressure from Afghanistan’s outstanding four-pronged spin assault, half-centuries from Abdullah Shafique (58) and Babar enabled Pakistan to establish a foundation.
Brief score: Pakistan 282/7 (Babar Azam 77, Abdullah Shafique 58; Noor Ahmad 3-49) vs Afghanistan 286/2 (Ibrahim Zadran 87, Rahmat Shah 77*; Hasan Ali 1-44). (ANI)