Asia Cup 2018: Twitter Reacts As Fifties From Hashmatullah Shahidi & Asghar Afghan Guide Afghanistan To Competitive Total
Hashmatullah Shahidi and skipper Asghar Afghan struck fifties to propel Afghanistan to a competitive 256 for 7 against Pakistan in the second game of the Super Four Stage at Asia Cup.
Electing to bat first, Afghanistan were off to a slow and nervous start. Mohammad Shehzad once again failed to pay his usual attacking game. Ihsanullah Janat also failed to score freely from the other end as he scored 10 off 28 balls before falling to Mohammad Nawaz. 5 runs later, Nawaz struck again to end Shehzad’s painful stay at the crease. The attacking batsman managed just 20 off just 31 balls.
Rahmat Shah and Shahidi, however, did not let Pakistan capitalise on the two quick wickets by adding 63 runs. Nawaz once again gave the Men in Green the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Shah for 36.
Shahidi and Afghan, who started his innings with a first-ball six, then set the platform for a challenging total by 94 runs for the fourth wicket. A six and four in the 38th over saw Afghanistan crossed the 150-run mark. Both the batsmen then reached their fifties in the 40th over.
Debutant Shaheen Shah then gave Pakistan the much-needed breakthrough by castling Afghan for 67. Mohammad Nabi was the next to return to the pavilion after scoring just 7. Shahidi, on the other hand, held firm from one end and remained unbeaten on 97to help his side post a competitive 257 for 6.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
Hashmatullah Shahidi 97 not out, stood strong thru and thru held Pakistan in a tight corner.. splendid knock in a big match.. what a story for a young team. Afghans are roaring.. take a bow! #PakvAfg #Cricket #AsiaCup2018
— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) September 21, 2018
Take a bow, Hashmatullah Shahidi. What a knock – 97 Not Out. He deserved that century.
It’s a great competitive game on now! https://t.co/cygjanxFRn
— Mujib Mashal (@MujMash) September 21, 2018
Hashmatullah #Shahidi deserves a hundred! #PAKvAFG
— Ajmal Jami (@ajmaljami) September 21, 2018
Pak Vs Eng T20 in Manchester was the best match we played under Sarf, and today has to be amongst the most disappointing ones. #PAKvAFG #AsiaCup2018
— ASD (@The_Normal1) September 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/ankit_sulekhiya/status/1043155755057086464
Three dropped catches of Shaheen…he then went for uprooting stumps #PAKvAFG
— Mohib Wazir ?? (@NoyanWazir) September 21, 2018
world best bowling is
now world worst bowling#PAKvAFG— Muhammad Nabeel (@muhammaddnabeel) September 21, 2018
Afghanistan cricket team = Lohay ke Channay #PAKvAFG #AsiaCup2018
— Areesha Aslam (@Areeesha) September 21, 2018
Poor defensive cricket from @SarfarazA_54 Never really went for the kill or creating pressure. Was just happy to contain boundaries in first overs, Afghanistan happily glided through n now comfortably scoring 250 here. #PAKvAFG
— Zunaira Maryam (@ZaneeraMaryam) September 21, 2018
Stupid Pakistani crowds chanting Pakistan ka matlab kiya? This was the slogan Jinnah explicitly said he had nothing to do with. But even more interesting … are Afghanistan a Jewish team? #PAKvAFG
— Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) September 21, 2018
Although i am not liking this one bit but Afghanistan is going to be one of the top teams in the world in a year or two.
Well played guys #PAKvAFG— ????? ?? ⚪ (@justt_whyyy) September 21, 2018
Only once since the 2017 Champions' Trophy have Pakistan bowled a higher percentage of spin in the first 25 overs of an ODI innings (v SL, Oct 2017 in Abu Dhabi). #AsiaCup2018 #AfgvPak
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/imPakistaniLAD/status/1043110350273617920
I think the reason #Afg did not promote Rashid khan up the order, is they don't want to take risk with rashid. He is kind of great bowler and taking batting services from him might dent hus bowling capabilities in this tender age. #PAKvAFG
— Krishna Esc ? (@Krishnasigns) September 21, 2018
Gee this is a scary match for Pakistan today. Afghanistan know how to play this ground so well and are on a roll! Pakistan need to play Nawaz.. #PakvAfg #AsiaCup2108 @StarSportsIndia
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) September 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/khurrammki/status/1042842827787526144
https://twitter.com/Azizaaaahmed/status/1043073293278949381
https://twitter.com/TiimesHow/status/1043133118897643521
https://twitter.com/haseebabbasiPTI/status/1043075872440365056
https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1043093501146095616
Afghanistan have come a long way as a cricketing nation but Pakistan gotta remind them whose the real boss! #PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/GTM7Li2El3
— Hammad Ahmed Khan (@HammadAhmedKha1) September 21, 2018
For me, #PAKvAFG is the new, intense rivalry to watch.
Not as aged as AUSvENG.
Not as political as PAKvINDIA.
But clearly, #PAKvAFG has its own political and ethnic dimensions based on the complicated experience between these two countries, people & even cricketers.
— W. S. Khan (@WajSKhan) September 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/khurrammki/status/1042842827787526144
Tagged:
Pakistan National Cricket Team
