In the 22nd clash of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 (CWC 2023), an extraordinary turn of events unfolded as Afghanistan clinched a remarkable victory against Pakistan by 8 wickets. This triumph marked Afghanistan’s inaugural win over their Pakistani rivals.
Opting to bat first, the Pakistani team managed to post a total of 282/7 after their allotted 50 overs. However, Afghanistan’s batting prowess shone as they gracefully chased down the target, reaching 286/2 in just 49 overs.
PAK vs AFG ODI World Cup 2023 Match Highlights:
After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to take the first batting stance and embarked on a promising start. Their opening duo, consisting of Abdullah Shafiq and Imam-ul-Haq (scoring 17), efficiently accumulated 56 runs during the initial powerplay.
Notably, in the fifth over, Shafiq smashed a six, thus breaking Pakistan’s streak of not hitting a maximum during the first powerplay in this year’s ODI matches. However, Pakistan’s momentum took a hit in the 11th over when Azmatullah Omarzai managed to dismiss Imam, marking the first wicket loss for the Pakistani side.
Shafiq notched up his third career half-century and his second in the ongoing ODI World Cup, achieving this milestone in just 60 deliveries. Furthermore, a commendable fifty-run partnership emerged between him and the skipper, Babar Azam. Pakistan reached the 100-run mark in 20 overs. However, their progress was interrupted when, at the score of 110 in the 23rd over, Abdullah Shafiq departed after a diligent innings of 58 runs off 75 balls. Mohammad Rizwan (8) also exited the crease at the score of 120 in the 25th over.
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Babar Azam, meanwhile, registered his 30th ODI half-century, taking 69 balls to reach this milestone. He then combined forces with Saud Shakeel (25), forging a partnership of 43 runs for the fourth wicket before Shakeel was dismissed at the score of 163 in the 34th over, pushing Pakistan’s total past the 150-run mark.
Pakistan reached the 200-run mark in the 42nd over, a notable achievement. However, their momentum faced a setback when, in the same over, Babar fell victim to Noor Ahmed after an impressive 74 runs off 92 balls. Following this pivotal moment, Iftikhar Ahmed (27 balls, 40) and Shadab Khan (38 balls, 40) joined forces, orchestrating a rapid partnership that added 73 runs to Pakistan’s total in just 45 balls. This collaboration propelled Pakistan to the 250-run milestone in the 47th over.
As the Pakistan’s innings entered its closing moments, Naveen-ul-Haq displayed remarkable bowling prowess, conceding only three runs and securing the dismissals of both Iftikhar and Shadab in the last over. This remarkable effort prevented Pakistan from getting within reach of the 300-run mark.
In his inaugural appearance for Afghanistan in the tournament, Noor Ahmed delivered an impressive performance by claiming three wickets, conceding 49 runs. Notably, his exceptional figures marked the best debut performance for his team in an ODI World Cup.
Meanwhile, Naveen-ul-Haq contributed with two crucial wickets, while Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai also chipped in with one wicket each to bolster Afghanistan’s bowling effort.
In response to the set target, Afghanistan’s opening duo, comprising Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, orchestrated a commendable performance, amassing 60 runs during the initial powerplay. This powerplay score ranks as their third-best in the history of World Cup matches. Impressively, Afghanistan crossed the 100-run threshold as early as the 16th over. Zadran reached his well-deserved half-century, accomplishing this feat in 54 deliveries, while Gurbaz followed suit in just 38 balls.
The partnership between these two prolific batsmen came to an end at the score of 130, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz departing in the 22nd over after contributing a solid 65 runs off 53 balls. This marked the fourth instance of a century partnership between them in ODIs, solidifying their chemistry as a formidable batting pair. Furthermore, it stood as the second-best partnership for any wicket in the history of the World Cup for Afghanistan.
Following this, another noteworthy half-century partnership unfolded, as Ibrahim Zadran, who faced 113 balls to accumulate 87 runs, collaborated with Rahmat Shah to add a valuable 60 runs to the scoreboard before Zadran’s dismissal at 190 in the 34th over. Subsequently, Rahmat found a dependable partner in captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, and together, they propelled the team past the 200-run mark in the 37th over and the 250-run milestone in the 45th over. Meanwhile, Rahmat Shah showcased his batting prowess by reaching his 24th ODI half-century in just 58 balls, further bolstering Afghanistan’s innings.
In an exhilarating showdown, Afghanistan matched Pakistan’s score in the 49th over, securing a historic victory on the very last ball of that same over. Rahmat Shah displayed unwavering resilience, remaining unbeaten at 77 runs from 84 balls, while Hashmatullah Shahidi’s contribution of an undefeated 48 runs from 45 balls was pivotal. Together, they crafted an unbroken partnership of 96 runs for the third wicket, ultimately steering their team to a remarkable triumph.
Prior to this memorable victory, Afghanistan had faced defeat in all seven of their ODI encounters with Pakistan. However, they rewrote history by claiming their first-ever win against their neighboring rivals. Furthermore, this triumph marked a milestone in World Cup history, as Afghanistan notched up more than one win in a single edition for the very first time.
As the tournament unfolds, Pakistan’s next challenge in the World Cup 2023 awaits them against South Africa on October 27 in Chennai, while Afghanistan will lock horns with Sri Lanka on October 30 in Pune in their upcoming fixture.
Who Won the Player of the Match Award in PAK vs AFG CWC 2023 Match?
A standout performance from Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran, who scored a brilliant 87 runs off 113 balls, earned him the well-deserved title of “Player of the Match.”
