T20 World Cup: Afghanistan score 147 against Pakistan thanks to Nabi-Gulbadin stand

An outstanding partnership by skipper Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib saw Afghanistan reach a very good total against Pakistan on Friday in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Afghanistan were in an extremely tough spot earlier in the innings when they were 76-6. However, a 71-run partnership saw them record a score of 147-6 in 20 overs. Things could have been worse for Pakistan but for a brilliant last over by pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. Nabi scored 35 runs off 32 deliveries and Gulbadin made 35 runs off 25 balls. Pakistan will have to score runs 148 in 120 balls to record their third successive win in the competition, which may very well prove to be a bit of a challenge on this pitch.

HORRID START FOR AFGHANISTAN

The Afghanistan batters were off to a dismal start. Nobody was being able to get a decent start and wickets kept falling at regular intervals for a very long time. By the time Gulbadin went out to the middle to bat, things were looking pretty disheartening. Afghanistan were 76-6 and Gulbadin had to build a solid partnership with his skipper Nabi.

A CLASS PARTNERSHIP

The duo did an outstanding job, constructing a mammoth 71-run stand and it was a thing of beauty. The batting was fearless towards the end and they visibly put an extreme amount of pressure on every single Pakistan player on the pitch. Both batters remained unbeaten until the end.

IMAD WASIM PICKS TWO

The Pakistan bowlers did an exceptional; job until the partnership as they bagged six wickets in under 75 runs. The star of the day with the ball was Imad Wasim who conceded 25 runs in four overs and bagged a couple of wickets. 

All the other bowlers picked one wicket each, with Shahdab Khan and Afridi being the most economical. Both picked one wicket and conceded 22 runs in four overs. Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali also picked one wicket each but were expensive. Rauf went for 37 runs and Ali conceded 38.