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Afghanistan delivered a spectacular performance, excelling in both batting and bowling to hand Pakistan a surprising eight-wicket defeat in the World Cup 2023.

In pursuit of a 283-run target, Afghanistan showcased stellar performances from Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77 not out), and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65), securing a score of 286-2 in 49 overs.

While Pakistan managed to set a total of 282-7 in their allotted 50 overs, with a notable contribution from skipper Babar Azam (74) and opener Abdullah Shafique (58), it ultimately proved insufficient against an efficient Afghanistan team.

Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, with a brisk 45-ball 48 not out, sealed the victory for Afghanistan by hitting the winning boundary. This achievement surpassed Afghanistan’s previous highest successful ODI chase of 274 against the UAE in Dubai back in 2014.

Pakistan’s performance in the field was lackluster, allowing easy boundaries for Afghanistan’s openers.

It took Afghanistan just 15.3 overs to breach the 100-run mark. By that time, both Ibrahim and Gurbaz had brought up their fifties.

Pakistan’s first wicket only came in the 22nd over, when Afridi induced a top edge off Gurbaz’s blade that was snapped up by deep third.

Gurbaz exhibited an impressive performance, hitting nine boundaries and a six in his 53-ball knock. Meanwhile Zadran showcased his skills with 10 boundaries off 113 deliveries before giving a catch behind off Hasan Ali with 93 runs still needed.

Rahmat and Shahidi ensured that Afghanistan maintained their composure, with Rahmat hitting five fours and two sixes during his 84-ball stay at the crease.

In the earlier innings, Azam displayed an elegant half-century to lead his team to a competitive total after choosing to bat first.

Azam’s 92-ball innings was complemented by Shafique’s 75-ball 58, while Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed contributed valuable 40 runs each.

On the spin-friendly Chidambaram Stadium pitch, Afghanistan fielded four slow bowlers, with 18-year-old left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad delivering a career-best performance of 3-49 on his World Cup debut.

This victory marks Afghanistan’s first-ever win over Pakistan in eight ODIs, coming just eight days after their unexpected triumph over defending champions England in Delhi.

Source: Cricinfo

Reaction of captains

Captain Shahidi expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating, “This win tastes nice. The way we chased was very professional and the way we did that will help us going into our other games now.”

The loss significantly challenges Pakistan’s World Cup campaign, with three defeats in five games and a formidable match against South Africa looming at the same venue on Friday.

In contrast, Afghanistan’s campaign gains some momentum with two wins in five matches, and they are set to face struggling Sri Lanka in Pune on Sunday.

Pakistan’s captain, Azam, acknowledged the disappointment, saying, “That really hurt us. We got a good total. Our bowling is not up to the mark.”

The victory was met with celebrations in Kabul, including celebratory gunfire, cheers, and fireworks that lasted for at least 15 minutes after the match concluded.

It’s worth noting that this victory for Afghanistan occurs during a period of tense political and diplomatic relations between the two neighboring nations.

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