Friday, March 24, was a memorable day for Afghanistan cricket. The team defeated Pakistan in the first T20 match played on Friday. This was the first time when Afghanistan defeated Pakistan in a T20 match.
The Pakistani team, playing in the absence of its star players, was seen struggling. Due to the embarrassing batting of the team, Afghanistan won the match by six wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the series.
Pakistan had rested its star players for this series, including names like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi. In the absence of these players, the Pakistani team looked scattered. It could not overcome the challenge of Afghanistan, and while batting first, the team could score only 92 runs.
Flop Batting
The primary reason for Pakistan’s defeat was its poor batting. Batting first, this team lost nine wickets in 20 overs and surrendered a score of only 92 runs. Only four batsmen of the team could cross the double figure. The most significant innings were played by Imad Wasim, whose bat yielded 18 runs.
Shafiq and Azam Khan, who rocked the PSL, could not open an account. Tayyab Tahir scored 16, and Saim Ayub scored 17 runs. At the same time, captain Shadab Khan was also dismissed after scoring only 12 runs.
That’s how you come back after being hit for three boundaries in one over!
Afghanistan strikes for the third time inside the powerplay. ⚡#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #LobaBaRangRawri pic.twitter.com/ZVNhPymJVZ
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) March 24, 2023
Rashid Khan – Genius at work
The skipper strikes first ball to leave Pakistan at 39/4 in 6.1 overs. #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #LobaBaRangRawri pic.twitter.com/9YJllfesMV
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) March 24, 2023
Afghanistan On Fire! ?@Mujeeb_R88 strikes to send Azam Khan back for a duck to leave @TheRealPCB 41/5 in 7.2 overs. #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #LobaBaRangRawri pic.twitter.com/jV9YI0bhrw
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) March 24, 2023
Apart from this, Mohammad Haris scored 6, and Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah scored 2-2 runs. Zaman Khan remained unbeaten after scoring eight and Inshanullah 6 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqui, Mujeeb and Mohammad Nabi took 2-2 wickets for Afghanistan, while Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah took 1-1 wickets.
Afghanistan Achieved The Target 13 Balls Ago
Pakistan’s bowlers tried to get the team going but could not defend the score of 92 runs. After taking two wickets, Mohammad Nabi scored the highest 38 runs for the team. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 16 runs, but fellow Ibrahim Zadran was dismissed after scoring only nine runs.
One ball later, Ihsanullah returned Gulbadin Naib to the pavilion without opening the account. Karim Janat also returned after scoring seven runs. From here, Nabi handled the innings with Najibullah and returned 13 balls earlier after winning the team.
