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.

Asia Cup 2018: Twitter Reacts As Fifties From Hashmatullah Shahidi & Asghar Afghan Guide Afghanistan To Competitive Total
Pakistan vs Hong Kong (Asia Cup, Credits: AFP)

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.

Asia Cup 2018: Twitter Reacts As Fifties From Hashmatullah Shahidi & Asghar Afghan Guide Afghanistan To Competitive Total
Pakistan vs Hong Kong (Asia Cup, Credits: AFP)

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.

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Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:

https://twitter.com/ankit_sulekhiya/status/1043155755057086464

https://twitter.com/ZaneeraMaryam/status/1043155871197552640

https://twitter.com/imPakistaniLAD/status/1043110350273617920

https://twitter.com/khurrammki/status/1042842827787526144

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https://twitter.com/Azizaaaahmed/status/1043073293278949381

https://twitter.com/TiimesHow/status/1043133118897643521

https://twitter.com/haseebabbasiPTI/status/1043075872440365056

https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1043093501146095616

https://twitter.com/khurrammki/status/1042842827787526144

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