Asia Cup 2018, Super Four, Match 2: Pakistan vs Afghanistan - Five Talking Points

Pakistan beat Afghanistan convincingly by three wickets in their first match in the Super Four game in Asia Cup 2018 in Abu Dhabi.

The Afghanistan team played an excellent brand of cricket but fell short of the win eventually. Meanwhile, a lot had happened to fall into the talking points of the day.

However, earlier in the day, Afghanistan skipper, Asghar Afghan won the toss and opted to bat first. The openers failed to impress much as Pakistan bowler, Mohammad Nawaz picked up two early wickets. Post that, Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi contributed 62 runs for the third-wicket stand.

Moreover, skipper, Asghar Afghan, and Hashmatullah Shahidi partnered brilliantly to add 94 runs and give some relief in the dressing room. Shahidi played a fantastic knock of unbeaten 97 runs off 118 balls smashing seven boundaries. Afghanistan secured a total of 257 runs losing their six wickets at the end of 50th overs.

Furthermore, while chasing down the target, Pakistan lost their first wicket in the very first over of the match.

Afghanistan bowler, Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up the first one for his team. However, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam later contributed 154 runs to give relief on the Pakistan side. Moreover, Imam-ul-Haq falls for 80 after being run out as Najibullah Zadran provides the breakthrough after Pakistan cross the 150-run mark.

However, during the chase, Imam-ul-Haq got run out by Najibullah and pressure got created on the Pakistan side. Later, Rashid Khan had the better off Babar Azam, and then Mujeeb Ur Rahman made another breakthrough picking up the wicket of Haris Sohail.

Furthermore, Pakistan team had to rely on the experienced Shoaib Malik along with the skipper Sarfraz Ahmed. In the meantime, Rashid Khan did his job picking up the wicket of captain Sarfraz.

However, Malik helped, in the end, to win the match with three balls to go, as the former captain finished off in style with a boundary and completed his fifty as well.

Here we take a look at five talking points from Pakistan and Bangladesh:

Asghar Afghan and Hashmatullah Shahidi partnered brilliantly

Afghanistan middle-order batsmen, Asghar Afghan and Hashmatullah Shahidi, partnered brilliantly to add 94 runs for the fourth wicket. However, after losing the first three wickets within 97 runs, Afghanistan was looking a bit nervous.

The duo gave Afghanistan a ray of hope for their side to post a total of 257 runs.

Mohammad Nawaz picked up three wickets

Pakistan bowler, Mohammad Nawaz bowled brilliantly and managed to pick three wickets for his team. However, he destroyed the first three batsmen of the lineup.

Moreover, he helped his side with some contributions on the field as well.

Hashmatullah Shahidi played a brilliant knock

Hashmatullah Shahidi (97) missed out on his maiden ODI hundred by just three runs after skipper Asghar Afghan hit a combative 67 off 56 balls, as Afghanistan scored a fighting 257 for six against Pakistan. However, five of his seven boundaries came during the last 14 balls of the Afghan innings.

Moreover, Shahidi needed a boundary off the last ball to complete his century, but Usman Khan denied him the milestone with an incoming yorker which the left-hander could not put away.

Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam scored a brilliant partnership

After the departure of Fakhar Zaman early in the first over, the duo played an excellent innings to add up 154 runs for the second wicket.

However, with the fall of Babar’s wicket, the pressure built on Pakistan but they managed to cross the winning line eventually.

Imam-ul-Haq played a fabulous innings

The southpaw, Imam-ul-Haq played some brilliant cricket against Pakistan. However, he also partnered 154 runs with Babar Azam for the second wicket. He was looking steady on the crease and played shots with ease.

Imam scored 80 runs off his bat facing 104 deliveries smashing five boundaries and one massive six. The Pakistan opener put up some good show to help his team to chase the target.