Asif Ali scored an unbeaten 25 runs off just seven deliveries, smashing four sixes in the 19th over to clinch the game for Pakistan.
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Pakistan recorded their third successive victory in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Friday when they beat Afghanistan by five wickets. Asif Ali hit four sixes in the 19th over to win the match in what was a fantastic cameo. Skipper Babar Azam played an extraordinary knock as well, scoring 51 runs off 47 deliveries. Rashid Khan made history in the match as well when he dismissed veteran cricketer Mohammad Hafeez. The spinner became the fastest player to bag 100 T20 international wickets, achieving the feat in just 54 matches. However, his performance was in vain as it was the men in green who ultimately emerged victorious on the day. Pakistan are yet to be beaten in the competition and they have established themselves as one of the strongest favorites to win the crown. Afghanistan had won the toss and elected to bat, making 147-6 in 20 overs. In response, Pakistan made 148-5 in 19 overs.
The match might have been closed out by Asif Ali, but it was the Pakistan skipper who built the Pakistan innings. Babar made a fantastic half-century as he scored 51 runs off 47 deliveries in an innings that included four boundaries. Afghanistan required their best bowler, Rashid Khan, to get Babar out. The contest between the two world-class players was spectacular as well.
Opener Mohammad Rizwan could not get a big score on the board as he was dismissed for just eight runs off 10 deliveries. Fakhar Zaman did a fine job as he scored 30 runs off 25 deliveries, hitting two boundaries and one maximum. Veteran batter Shoaib Malik also played a decent cameo, scoring 19 runs off 15 deliveries. He hit a massive six off a Rashid delivery which was quite spectacular.
Asif Ali was back at his explosive best as he put the finishing touches on what was an amazing day for Pakistan. He played the role of a finisher in Pakistan’s previous game against New Zealand and he did the same yet again. The batter scored an unbeaten 25 runs off just seven deliveries. He hit four sixes in the 19th over to clinch the game and the two points for his team.
It was a valiant effort from the Afghanistan bowlers but Pakistan were just too strong for them. Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged two wickets for just 26 runs in four overs. He became the fastest cricketer to reach 100 T20 international wickets, doing it in just 54 runs. He dismissed veteran batter Hafeez and the dangerous Babar.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman also bowled a fantastic spell at the beginning of the run chase. He picked the wicket of Mohammad Rizzwan and conceded only 14 runs in four overs. However, he had to go off injured after his spell. Skipper Mohammad Nabi and Naveen-ul-Haq picked one wicket each as well.
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 Naib 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 Mohammad Nabi.
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.
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 Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah 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.
