PAK vs AFG: "Asked Babar Azam To Let Me Bat Up The Order" - Reveals MOTM Shadab Khan
Updated - 08 Sep 2022, 01:53 AM
Pakistan pulled off a thrilling victory to book their berth in the finals of the Asia Cup 2022, securing a 1-wicket victory against Afghanistan tonight. Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the summit clash on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 130 runs, Pakistan reached 131 for nine in 19.2 overs with Naseem Shah (14*) hitting back-to-back sixes to win the match. Shadab Khan top-scored with a knock of 36 runs off 26 balls, and picked up a wicket in his 4-overs spell.
Shadab Khan’s late flourish propel Pakistan against Afghanistan to seal finals berth
Speaking after his match-winning performance, the 23-year-old said, “We have played a few home series in UAE and it has helped us. The pitch helped the spinners and the spell with Mohammad Nawaz was clinical to build pressure on Afghanistan. We tried to keep things tight and not leak easy runs.”
He further added, “I asked Babar to let me bat up the order, which he allowed and it worked out well to post a defendable total.”
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad took three wickets each for Afghanistan and Rashid Khan bagged two dismissals to take the game deep but unfortunately failed to get the results go their way. Previously, a knock of 35 runs off 27 balls by Ibrahim Zadran helped Afghanistan post 129 for six in 20 overs, with Haris Rauf taking two wickets for Pakistan.
India crashes out of Asia Cup 2022
Afghanistan’s defeat to Pakistan, however also implies the end of campaign for the Men In Blue in Asia Cup 2022. Rohit Sharma and Co have lost both their Super 4s fixture against Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively and has failed to register any points. India play their final match of the continental tournament tomorrow (Thursday, September 8) in a dead-rubber fixture.
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Pakistan national cricket team
