Asia Cup 2018: Super Four, Match 2 - Pakistan vs Afghanistan - Shoaib Malik Seals the Deal for Pakistan in Nerve-Wracking Clash

The match 2 of Super Four clash of this Asia Cup went to the wire as Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik held nerves to beat Afghanistan by three wickets with three balls to spare.

On a very slow wicket, Shahidi continued his top form with a very patient 97 off 118 balls, dropping anchor to register his highest ODI score, and in turn, help Asghar Afghan tee off at the other end in a 94-run stand for the fourth wicket. Afghan scored 67 off 56 balls, starting with a first-ball six off Mohammad Nawaz and then bludgeoning just about everything later; he hit 2 fours and 5 sixes.Afghan was dropped on 65 off Afridi by Haris Sohail but the 18-year-old hit back a ball later, sneaking one through the batsman’s slog to register his maiden wicket in One-Day Internationals. He finished with figures of 2 for 38 in his ten overs to have a wonderful debut in this Asia Cup.

It took spin for Pakistan to strike the first blow to Afghanistan. Nawaz struck with the first ball of his second over. Ihsanullah perished to the pressure of five dot balls, edging one back to Nawaz off a leading edge. The left-arm spinner, who replaced injured Shadab Khan, struck again off the first ball of his next over, this time avenging with Shahzad’s wicket.

Pakistan bowled a lot of spin, evident from the fact that Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail got to bowl ahead of Hasan Ali. The fast bowler got the wicket of Najibullah Zadran in the 47th over. During this time Afghanistan lost a few wickets in trying to amp up the scoring.

Shahidi was stranded on 97 but the quick runs late in his innings has helped Afghanistan to a total that should test Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan got off to a flier with Mujeeb-ur Rahman dismissing Fakhar Zaman for a duck. But since then, Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam took over the reigns to dominate the proceedings. They added 154 runs for the second wicket with both Imam and Babar registering their half-centuries.

But two quick wickets put Pakistan in a spot of bother before Harris Sohail and Shoaib Malik looked in line to finish the game. However, Afghanistan struck thrice to shift the moment but Pakistan had chances with Malik still in the crease. The match went to the wire with Pakistan needing 18 runs off the last 12 balls.

Rashid Khan removed Mohammad Nawaz first and then to get hit for a six to bring the equation to 10 runs from the last over. The experienced Shoaib Malik sealed the game for Pakistan with a six and four with three balls to spare.

Here is how the Twitter reacted as  in the Asia Cup Super Four fixture at Abu Dhabi:

https://twitter.com/SharafatKiDukan/status/1043223047312998401

Only Malik is confident player right now #PAKvAFG

— Zulqarnain Bajwa (@zulqarnainbajwa) September 21, 2018

Afghanistan is so much important for the game of cricket….Their rise, fight, passion, everything abt them can inspire so many#PAKvAFG

— urstrulyKajal?? (@BanarasiBasanti) September 21, 2018

Imam Ul Haq is talentless, useless & classless player. He should play just against Zimbabwe, Ireland, Kenya, UAE, Hong Kong & teams like these. #PAKvAFG #AsiaCup2018

— Ahmad Haseeb (@iamAhmadhaseeb) September 21, 2018

#PAKvAFG

Jab Usman Buzdar jaisa bnda CM Punjab lag skta hai to Haris Sohail jaisa bnda Pakistan team mai b khel skta hai 🙂

— Faizan930 (@Engineer9922) September 21, 2018

https://twitter.com/NuamanIM/status/1043209615922606086

Rashid khan is a terrific bowler. Here i guess he is a bit quick from the pitch perspective. He need to slow down and give the bowl a bit more air. He is also bowling a bit short #PAKvAFG

— Khurram (@Siddiqi__) September 21, 2018

Is it safe to watch Pak innings? Asking for a friend… ?#PAKvAFG

— TweetOmaniaK (@TweetOmaniaK) September 21, 2018

Aapas ki baat hai magar agar yeh Afghani players Pakistan mein hotay tau aadhon ko tau Mickey nai YoYo test mein he fail kar daina tha.#PakvAfg #AFGvPAK #PakvsAfg #AsiaCup #AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCup18

— Waqas Balkhi (@BalkhiWaqas) September 21, 2018

Unpredictability mode is on for Pakistan ?#PAKvAFG #PAKvAFG

— Engr. Rana Ahmad Ali (@RanaAhmadAli14) September 21, 2018

Haris Sohail is mirror image of Shoaib Malik ? #PAKvAFG #Pakistan

— λŁƗ (@imali_21) September 21, 2018

https://twitter.com/Farooq53477323/status/1043215191008272386

@realshoaibmalik is not doubt the fittest player of the team even at the age of 36. #Fitness #Malik #Pakistan #AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCup #PAKvAFG #AFGvPAK

— The 3rd Umpire ᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠᅠ (@The3rdUmpire01) September 21, 2018