Dubai – Skilled batsman Shoaib Malik hit a six and a boundary to drag off a sensational remaining over 3 wicket win for Pakistan in opposition to a spirited Afghanistan within the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Malik pulled the second one ball of the overall over by means of paceman Aftab Alam over the deep sq. leg boundary after which whacked the following to deep superb leg for a boundary as Pakistan pulled off a nerve-wracking win in 49.Three overs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Pakistan, cashing a stiff 258-run goal, have been house and dry to start out the Tremendous 4 Degree with a miles wanted win and now face arch opponents India in Dubai on Sunday.
Hashmatullah Shahidi overlooked out on a maiden hundred by means of an insignificant 3 runs however nonetheless suggested Afghanistan to a difficult 257-6.
Pakistan have been off to a disastrous get started when opener Fakhar Zaman was once trapped leg-before off the 6th ball of the innings by means of spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman for nought.
Imam-ul-Haq scored a 104-ball 80 with 5 limitations and a six whilst Babar Azam knocked a lovely 94-ball 66 with 4 limitations and a six all through their innings repairing the 154-run stand for the second one wicket.
However each fell inside the house of 4 runs as spinner Rashid Khan (3-46) introduced Afghanistan again within the recreation with the asking charge getting stiffer, as Pakistan wanted 42 off the overall 5 overs.
Regardless of shedding skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (8), Asif Ali (seven) and Mohammad Nawaz (ten), Malik stored his cool to sop Afghanistan from posting their 3rd directly win after beating Sri Lanka and Bangladesh within the first spherical.
Previous, Shahidi hit 3 consecutive limitations within the ultimate over off Usman Shinwari, however didn’t get to a few figures off the remaining supply after Afghanistan gained the toss and batted.
Shahidi completed with a brilliantly-paced 118-ball 97 no longer out, and added 94 for the fourth wicket along with his skipper Asghar Afghan, who smashed 5 sixes and two fours in his 56-ball 67.
Nevertheless it was once Shahidi who held one finish in opposition to Pakistan’s bowling in an innings which featured seven limitations after left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (3-57) had put the brakes on Afghanistan’s early development.
Shahidi had added 63 for the 3rd wicket with Rahmat Shah who scored a measured 36.
The overall is an growth by means of Afghanistan after scoring 249 and 255 of their earlier two wins in opposition to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Pakistani fielders dropped 4 catches – 3 off debutant paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi who completed with 2-38.
India beat Bangladesh by means of seven wickets in Dubai and now meet Pakistan on Sunday, additionally in Dubai. Afghanistan and Bangladesh meet in Abu Dhabi at the identical day.
Best two groups from the Tremendous 4 Phases will play the overall in Dubai on September 28.
