PAK vs AFG Highlights Afghanistan scripted history as they entered the final’s of the cricket competition of the ongoing Asian Games. The Afghani side defeated neighbours Pakistan by four wickets in the semi-final match on Friday. Naib and Co. will now face India for the Gold Medal match on October 7 (Saturday)
Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bowl first restricting Pakistan to just 115 in 18 overs. Fareed Ahmad was the pick of the bowlers with 3/15, Qais Ahmad (2/11), Zahir Khan (2/20), Karim Janat (1/12) and Gulbadin Naib (1/29) were the other wicket takers as Afghanistan bundled out Pak for the first time in T20Is.
The start wasn’t as good as needed for the Afghan batters as they lost their openers inside the first 5 overs for 35 runs. Noor Ali Zadran scored 39 in 33 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes but was dismissed looking to find his third six.
The spinners dominated in the second innings as well, Arafat Minhas (2/11) and Usman Qadir (2/20) were well supported by Sufiyan Muqeem (1/18) but there were not enough runs on the board to play with.
Losing 6 wickets for 84 in the 15th over, Naib then played out the spinners cautiously and afterwards made full use of the pace on offer to hammer three sixes and the inevitable boundary to take his team over the line sealing the spot in the finals against India after winning the game by 4 wickets and 13 deliveries to spare.
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Match Details
- Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Semi-final 2, Asian Games 2023
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 6, 11:30 AM IST
- Venue: Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field, Hangzhou
Teams:
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Shahzad(w), Noor Ali Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Gulbadin Naib(c), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Qais Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zahir Khan
Pakistan (Playing XI): Omair Yousuf, Mirza Tahir Baig, Rohail Nazir(w), Haider Ali, Qasim Akram(c), Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Arafat Minhas, Aamer Jamal, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Qadir
