Cricket
Afghanistan players celebrate their special win against Pakistan in team dressing room | Watch
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Afghanistan put on a superb batting and bowling display to hand Pakistan a stunning eight-wicket defeat in the Cricket World Cup on Monday. Chasing a 283-run target, Afghanistan were lifted by Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77 not out) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) as they scored 286-2 in 49 overs.
Pakistan had made 282-7 in their 50 overs with 74 from skipper Babar Azam and 58 from opener Abdullah Shafique but the total did not prove tough enough for a clinical Afghanistan.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, with a 45-ball 48 not out, hit the winning boundary as Afghanistan improved upon their highest ODI chase of 274 against the UAE in Dubai in 2014.
The win is Afghanistan’s first-ever over Pakistan in eight ODIs and came eight days after their shock victory over defending champions England in Delhi.
The Afghan players after registering the historic win celebrated the win in the dressing room in unique manner with Rashid Khan dancing along with other players.
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.
“They hurt us,” Babar said. “We had a good total, but in the bowling we were not up to the mark. All credit to the Afghanistan team, the way they played. We couldn’t take wickets in the middle overs and our bowlers didn’t hit the right lengths – especially spinners.”
The jubilant Afghanistan players were applauded by the crowd at the Chidambaram Stadium as they took the victory lap with star legspinner Rashid Khan having the country’s flag wrapped around his shoulder.
It was Pakistan’s first loss in an ODI against Afghanistan, which bettered its previous highest successful ODI chase of 274 made against United Arab Emirates nine years ago.
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Updated: 23 Oct 2023, 11:08 PM IST
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