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World Cup 2023: Afghanistan makes history, defeats Pakistan with 8 wickets to spare

Afghan bowlers delivered an excellent performance, setting the stage for their batters to secure a remarkable victory.

By Omar | Oct 23, 2023 | 2 Min Read

Hashmatullah Shahidi seals a historic victory for Afghanistan, defeating Pakistan in an ODI for the first time. They secured the win with 8 wickets in hand and one over to spare, sparking scenes of jubilation among the Afghan team, while Pakistan faced despair after losing their 7-0 lead against Afghanistan. Tonight, Afghanistan showcased their superior performance.

In pursuit of a daunting 283-run target, Afghanistan’s openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, provided a strong foundation, contributing 130 runs for the first wicket. Gurbaz displayed brilliance with his 65 runs from 53 balls, and Ibrahim Zadran made a significant contribution with 87 runs from 113 balls. Under pressure, Rahmat Shah, batting at Number 3, delivered a remarkable unbeaten 77* off 84 balls. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi played a crucial role with an unbeaten 48* off 45 balls, ultimately hitting the winning runs. The partnership between Shahidi and Rahmat Shah, accumulating an unbeaten 96 runs, sealed the victory for Afghanistan with an over to spare.

The Pakistan bowlers had a tough day, with only Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali managing to pick up one wicket each. The rest of the bowlers remained wicketless, and the team appeared disoriented and sloppy in the field. It was a forgettable day for Pakistan. At the start of the game, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. They began well, with Imam being the first to depart after scoring 17 runs. Abdullah Shafique looked promising with his 58 runs from 75 balls, while skipper Babar Azam regained form, top-scoring with 74 runs off 92 balls. Saud Shakeel contributed 25 runs from 34 balls, and Shadab Khan played a crucial innings, scoring 40 runs from 38 balls.

Iftikhar Ahmed finished strongly, adding 40 runs from 27 balls. The fielding side conceded 17 extras as Pakistan reached a competitive total of 282/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Noor Ahmad stood out among the Afghan bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs. Naveen Ul Haq captured two wickets, conceding 52 runs in 7 overs, while Mohammad Nabi took one wicket and gave away 31 runs in 10 overs. Omarzai also contributed a wicket but conceded 50 runs in 5 overs.

Rashid Khan remained wicketless but was economical, conceding only 41 runs in his 10 overs. Overall, the Afghan bowlers delivered an excellent performance, setting the stage for their batters to secure a remarkable victory. Afghanistan with resounding win over Pakistan by 8 wickets, with an over to spare, will be celebrated with great enthusiasm. Stay tuned for the post-match presentations.