Afghanistan defeated Pakistan and Won by 6 Wickets .Pakistan, without five rested frontline players including captain Babar Azam, struggled on a slow and low pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium against the Afghans, whose six bowlers shared all nine wickets.
Afghanistan beat Pakistan in a Twenty20 match for the first time on Friday, winning 92-9.Pakistan struggled on a slow and low pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium against the Afghans, who shared all nine wickets despite being missing five rested frontline players, including skipper Babar Azam.Afghanistan recovered from a 45-4 score in the 10th over to triumph by six wickets with more than two overs to spare.
With a straight six over long off, Mohammad Nabi gave Afghanistan its first win over Pakistan in five attempts over the last decade.”It’s a pleasure to win because we’ve always lost by small margins against them,” Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said. “Wearing Afghanistan colours and leading the team to victory is a proud accomplishment.” We never know what the wicket is going to be… (but) the mindset was… to adjust appropriately.”
Afghanistan has a chance at a first series win in the remaining two T20s on Sunday and Monday.
None of the Pakistan batters could accelerate on a two-paced pitch and mostly fell to soft dismissals.
In the absence of stalwart openers Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, replacements Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris struggled to read the low bounce and fell within the batting powerplay while trying risky shots.
Azmatullah Omarzai trapped Abdullah Shafique for 0 and Tayyab Tahir, one of four Pakistan debutants, lobbed a return catch to Rashid Khan.
Pakistan was 41-5 in the eighth over when Azam Khan was also out for a single.
Pakistan was on the verge of matching its lowest T20 total of 74 against Australia in Dubai in 2012, but Imad Wasim top-scored with 18.
“Sometimes this can happen because young players are nervous, but they need to be given chances,” interim captain Shadab Khan explained. “As professionals, we cannot make excuses for the conditions; we must learn from this loss.”
Mujeeb Ur Rahman got 2-9, while Fazalhaq Farooqi took 2-13.
Ihsanullah, a Pakistan fast bowler making his début, took two wickets in his first over with short-pitched deliveries.
