Match Wrap: Pakistan vs Afghanistan

Match Wrap: Pakistan vs Afghanistan

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Malik holds nerve to clinch cliffhanger

• Fifties from Imam, Babar and Malik take Pakistan over the line

• Shahidi's career-best 97* in vain as Afghanistan's fielding slip ups prove costly

1

BIG PICTURE

There was drama. There was emotion. Fortunes of both sides oscillated in a nerve-jangling battle between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Chasing a stiff 258, it was Pakistan's experience that just about edged them to a narrow 3-wicket win in this tournament's first proper humdinger. Imam-Ul-Haq and Babar Azam laid the perfect platform with a stand of 154 for the 2nd wicket. Then Shoaib Malik took it upon himself to take his side home with 3 balls to spare after seeing off a vibrant spell from Rashid Khan; during which he pipped Mohammad Nabi to become the highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan in ODIs.

It was a 94-run partnership between Asghar Afgan and Hashmatullah Shahidi which shifted the momentum towards Afghanistan earlier after a sedate start. Shahidi then went on to finish with a flourish which aided his team to finish on a competitive 257 for 6.  [scorecard]

2

PLAY OF THE DAY

MAKING AMENDS

Hasan Ali had bowled Shahidi off a no ball and given four runs away on the free hit. And as he walked in to bat AT No. 9, Pakistan needed 16 runs off 9 with Afghanistan's spearhead Rashid Khan bowling. So, what does he do - he thumps the first ball for a massive six setting it up for Shoaib Malik to wrap things up in the last over. 

3

WINNING HAND

Shoaib Malik oozed zen like calm even as the required run rate mounted northwards of 8 an over. He banked on his experience accumulating runs through 1s and the 2s before exploding towards the end. His 43-ball unbeaten 51 was laced with 3 fours and a six which came off the last over and all but sealed the deal for Pakistan. After scything the winning boundary, he displayed great sportsmanship as he went to console the bowler - Aftab Alam - who broke down after conceding 10 off 3 in the final over.

4

MATCH-O-METER

Cricket Gateway's MatchOMeter tracks the momentum of the game through the teams' win probabilities. Pakistan had looked a bit jaded against India but were pre game favorites. 

In what turned out to be a wild game with wild probability swings, Afghanistan stuck to their tried and tested game plan and almost pulled a off great win, but Pakistan orchestrated a heist via Shoaib Malik.

[Note - the probabilities are calculated based on chances of a win for each team calculated as per the match situation]