Afghanistan has secured a famous series win against Pakistan with a game to spare, winning their second successive match. Pakistan, defending a total of 130, fought valiantly but Afghanistan’s solid bowling performance restricted their run scoring.
The required rate soared past ten and Afghanistan found themselves requiring 22 off the final two overs on a notoriously difficult pitch. However, Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi hung around until the end to shepherd their side through tempestuous waters, thwarting Pakistan at the death once more.
In the first over of Pakistan’s innings, Afghan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi sent down a double-wicket maiden, setting the tone for the match. When Pakistan lost half their side for 63, getting to three figures looked a challenge.
But Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim found a way to hold off a surging Afghanistan bowling attack, consolidating and then attacking, bringing up a 45-ball half-century before Shadab joined in. The final four overs saw 42 runs scored, and Pakistan had a total they could defend.
In the chase, Afghanistan struggled to score boundaries on a slow pitch and the runs came mostly in singles. Despite smothering Afghanistan for 15 overs, Pakistan only managed to take one wicket. However, the run rate had slipped below a run-a-ball and when Afghanistan’s talismanic opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz perished, Afghanistan had not thrown away wickets while Pakistan’s bowlers were on top.
Afghanistan’s victory is a historic one, coming just over a decade after they burst onto the international scene. The win will taste the sweetest of all as Afghanistan has never had anything given to them easy.
