One can learn how to lose a match from winning a position from Afghanistan. Afghanistan has lost the third game in the tournament where they were in the winning position. The blame for the loss in this game goes to their captain Gulbadin Naib who bowled an over which changed the result of the match.
After winning the toss, Afghanistan opted to bat first. They looked positive from the beginning even though they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Rahmat Shah (35), Asghar Afghan (42) and Najibullah Zardan (42) scored the bulk of the runs for Afganistan. Afghanistan’s innings finished at 227 for 9 in 50 overs. Shaheen Afridi took four wickets for 47 while Wahab and Imad took two each.
Pakistan had a terrible start as they lost Fakhar Zaman on the second ball of the innings. However, Imam and Babar added 72 runs for the second wicket. Pakistan was cruising to a comfortable victory, but they lost too many wickets in the middle overs, which added extra pressure on the lower order.
The required run rate went above seven runs per over as the Afghanistani spinners bowled brilliantly and kept the pressure on the incoming lower-order batsman. However, the captain Gubadin Naib bowled the 46th and most expensive over of the match and released the pressure from Pakistan. He bowled full tosses and half volleys and allowing to score them freely. Imad Wasim took the maximum advantage of his bowling and won the match for his team. Imad Wasim was also adjudged Man of the Match for his unbeaten 49 and two wickets in the game.
Watch the highlights of the match
STATS
- Shaheen Shah Afridi is the first teenager in the Cricket World Cup history to take four wickets in a game.
- Wahab Riaz has 34 wickets in the World Cup. The only Pakistan bowler with more wickets in the tournament history is Wasim Akram (55).
