Afghanistan wins landmark cricket series against Pakistan
Afghanistan beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.
Afghanistan has put on another impressive run-chase to beat Pakistan with a new look by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international (T20I) with one ball to go and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series.
Sunday’s win at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marks the first time Afghanistan has won a series over a top six ICC team.
Pakistan opted to bat first but its inexperienced top order again disappointed before remembering Imad Wasim not hitting 64 off 57 balls and captain Shadab Khan made 32 to lift the final total to 130-6.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (44) and Ibrahim Zadran (38) led Afghanistan’s chase before Najibullah Zadran scored a swift unbeaten 23 and Mohammad Nabi was 14 not out to take their team to 133-3 with a ball to spare.
“It is a great honor and a pleasure to lead this great team,” said Afghan captain Rashid Khan. “Great effort with the ball, and then we went deep and finished it… We have players to finish it like Nabi and Najib.”
Najibullah and Nabi needed 22 from the last two overs and hit a six each in Naseem Shah’s penultimate, which went over 17 and effectively ended Pakistan’s hopes.
Afghanistan recorded a memorable six-wicket victory against Pakistan on Friday after Shadab’s team was pinned at 92-9.
In the absence of five rested front-line players, including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan continued to struggle with Afghanistan’s pace and spin on Sharjah’s slow wickets.
Saim Ayub, who made his T20 debut in the first game, pushed behind the second ball of the game from Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-19). Abdullah Shafique became the first men’s batsman in T20 history to record a fourth consecutive duck when he was caught in the leg-before wicket by Farooqi in his first double-wicket maiden over, leaving Pakistan 0–2.
Mohammad Haris (15) and Tayyab Tahir (13) were also unable to estimate the wicket well in advance. Azam Khan (1) was baffled by Rashid’s sharp googly and was out lbw as Pakistan fell to 63-5 in 11 overs.
Imad and Shadab then combined in a 67-run tie, with Imad hitting two sixes and three fours before Shadab ran off the last ball going for a second run.
Gurbaz got off to a powerful start for Afghanistan as he crushed Naseem (0-39) for a six and a boundary in the first over and took the game deep adding 56 runs with Ibrahim. Gurbaz was exhausted when his reverse round shot went straight to Naseem at a short third man and Ibrahim hit a sharp single.
Fast bowler Ihsanullah (1-23) had Ibrahim trailing in the 18th over, but Najibullah and Nabi sealed the game with their combative strike against Naseem in the penultimate over.
“We struggled again,” said Shadab. “If you lose three wickets in power play, you lose 70 per cent of matches… The young players were nervous. They are playing for Pakistan for the first time, but we have to support them.”
The third T20 match between the two teams will be played later on Monday.