CHENNAI: It doesn't matter if they don't make the semifinals - the 2023 World Cup will always be remembered for the beautiful dream that the warriors of a bruised and battered nation lived. From Ball 1 to the 49th over of their innings, when they notched up the eight-wicket win, every Afghan player chipped in.
They were determined not to get distracted by the shadow of the close defeats they had suffered against Pakistan in recent times. There was an aura of positive intent about every step that they took and their first ODI win against the neighbours all but shuts out Pakistan hopes of a semifinal berth.
283 was not an easy chase on a Chepauk pitch that had something in it for the spinners. Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran knew that if they had to make a match of it, they would have to produce a substantial opening partnership. While Gurbaz has IPL experience and came here on the back of a match-winning effort against England, Zadran had been struggling for form. But on Monday, they well and truly delivered as a duo.
Gurbaz (65 off 53 balls) was the aggressor and Zadran (87 off 113 balls) kept rotating the strike, never missing a chance to get the boundary when an opportunity arose. Their job was made easier by the Pakistan attack, which failed to make any impression with the new ball. While Shaheen Afridi hardly ever got his lethal inswinger going, the biggest disappointment was Haris Rauf. His skiddy, back of the length deliveries with no variation of pace was hardly a matter of concern for the two openers. Hasan Ali, on the other hand, has come in as a late entrant in place of injured Naseem Shah and he didn't look the part.
Gurbaz, with the gift of timing that he has, kept finding the gaps with ease as the Pakistan pacers ran out of ideas. Equally disappointing were the two Pakistan leggies Usama Mir and Shadab Khan, who replaced an indisposed left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz.
The two leggies lacked the control that Kuldeep Yadav or Adam Zampa have shown in the tournament. There was invariably a short ball on offer from the two spinners every over and both Gurbaz and Zadran didn't miss a chance to cash in. The partnership of 130 off 21.1 overs had all but taken the game away from Pakistan. But those who have watched Afghanistan lose those tight games to Pakistan in recent times, felt that there could be a twist in the tale when Gurbaz was dismissed.
But Zadran and left-hander Rahmat Shah, coming in at No. 3, soaked in the pressure as the two put up another 60 runs in 12 overs. Gurbaz's opening assault had ensured that there was no pressure on the asking-rate front and that allowed the two to look for runs without taking too many risks. A tired Zadran got out in the 34th over, nicking Hasan Ali, but the damage had been done by then.
1/10:World Cup: Afghanistan send Pakistan crashing to shock defeat
Reuters
2/10:Afghanistan beat Pakistan
<p>Afghanistan put up a superb batting and bowling display to hand Pakistan a stunning eight-wicket defeat in the Cricket World Cup in Chennai on Monday. </p>Reuters
3/10:283-run target
<p>Chasing a 283-run target, Afghanistan were lifted by Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77 not out) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) as they scored 286-2 in 49 overs. </p>PTI
4/10:Babar Azam
<p>Pakistan had made 282-7 in their 50 overs with 74 from skipper Babar Azam and 58 from opener Abdullah Shafique but the total did not prove tough enough for a clinical Afghanistan. </p>TNN
5/10:Highest ODI chase
<p>Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, with a 45-ball 48 not out, hit the winning boundary as Afghanistan improved upon their highest ODI chase of 274 against the UAE in Dubai in 2014.</p>PTI
6/10:Sloppy Pakistan
<p>Pakistan were sloppy in the field as they conceded easy boundaries with openers Zadran and Gurbaz taking their side to 100 in the 16th over. </p>PTI
7/10:130-run stand
<p>Zadran and Gurbaz put on 130 by the 22nd over and it was only a miscued shot from Gurbaz off Shaheen Shah Afridi that brought Pakistan their first wicket. </p>AFP
8/10:Gurbaz and Zadran
<p>Gurbaz hit nine boundaries and a six in his 53-ball knock while Zadran scored 10 boundaries off 113 deliveries before handing a catch behind off Hasan Ali with 93 still needed. </p>PTI
9/10:Match-winning stand
<p>Rahmat and Shahidi ensured Afghanistan did not collapse and Rahmat hit five fours and two sixes in his 84-ball stay at the crease. </p>Reuters
10/10:First-ever ODI win
<p>The win is Afghanistan's first-ever over Pakistan in eight ODIs and came eight days after their shock victory over defending champions England in Delhi. </p>APThe fact that skipper Babar kept taking off his pacers at crucial junctures, hoping that they would be of some use later in the game, only added to Pakistan's woes. The two spinners Shadab and Mir were pedestrian to put Rahmat and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi under any serious pressure.
While the Afghan batting deserves all the credit for such an outstanding chase, their four-spinner theory also paid dividends. Chinaman Noor Ahmed (3/49), who finally got his chance, was the best of the lot. He was fast through the air, kept hitting the right spots and the likes of Babar and Abdullah Shafique couldn't create major momentum.
