Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by three wickets in the Super Four of the Asia Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, with Shoaib Malik steering them to victory in the last over with back-to-back boundaries.
Malik scored 51, not out, with Imam-ul-Haq chipping in with 80 and Babar Azam with 66.
Pakistan 258 for 7 (Imam 80, Babar 66, Malik 51*, Rashid 3-46) beat
Afghanistan 257 for 6 (Shahidi 97*, Afghan 67, Nawaz 3-57) by three wickets
It was three balls from the end that the match finally appeared to have swung decisively. In an ideal world, Afghanistan wouldn't have wanted their weakest bowler on the day - Aftab Alam - bowling the final over. But here he was, and under extreme pressure, it was experience that told, reports ESPN Cric Info.
Shoaib Malik is experience personified, and he capitalised as the bowler lost his composure and sent down two poor deliveries with 10 needed off five balls. A six and a four, game over, and a three-wicket Pakistan win. Eight hours and a bit of Afghanistan playing out of their skins, and yet no points to show for it.
The best game of this tournament - one of the best ODIs all year - it refused to get off the knife's edge. A magnificent unbeaten 97 from Hashmatullah Shahidi and an entertaining half-century from Asghar Afghan powered Afghanistan to their highest total of the tournament - 257 - overcoming a wobbly start where they lost both openers early.
Pakistan began in the worst possible way, losing Fakhar Zaman in the first over, but a monumental 154-run partnership between Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq appeared to have put them on course. It wasn't nearly as simple as that, with Afghanistan continuously pegging Pakistan back. They fell just short in the end, and the tears flowed.
Earlier, Pakistan defeated Hong Kong by eight wickets in their opening match of Group A. Opening batsman Shan Masood while speaking to media on Thursday said, “Pakistan will not take Afghanistan lightly.”
“The team will play to their strengths,” he said, adding “There is no more room for mistakes.” Pacer Mohammad Amir and Faheem Ashraf are likely to be replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Sohail for the game against Afghanistan.
