COLOMBO – Pakistan claimed the One-Day International (ODI) series, beating Afghanistan by 59 runs in the third and final match in Colombo on Saturday.
Pakistan set a target of 269 runs for Afghanistan and then dismissed their opponents for 209 in 48.4 overs. Chasing the target, number nine Mujeebur Rahman top-scored for Afghanistan with a 37-ball 64 for his maiden half-century.
Rahman smashed five sixes and as many boundaries, racing to a new Afghan record for the fastest ODI fifty off just 26 balls before he stepped on to his stump and was out hit wicket off Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Rashid Khan was the previous record holder for Afghanistan with a 27-ball fifty against Ireland in Abu Dhabi last year.
Rahman and Shahidullah Kamal (37 off 65 balls) shared a valiant stand of 57 for the eighth wicket to give some respectability to the total after their team were reeling at 97-7.
Rahman also added 45 for the ninth wicket with Fareed Ahmad Malik who scored 17.
Earlier, Pakistan’s opening pair Imamul Haq (13) and Fakhar Zaman (27) could not make an impressive score. However, Pakistan’s all-time favorite pair – Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan – built a strong third wicket partnership.
The Pakistan skipper made 60 runs while Rizwan scored 67. After their dismissal, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz kept the score ticking up as they made 38 and 30, respectively.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first.
Four changes have been made in Pakistan team for the last game against Afghanistan. Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz and Wasim Junior were included while Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Usama Mir got rest.
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Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first ????#AFGvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/amhmCvmb1H
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 26, 2023
After clinching the first two matches, Pakistan will eye a clean sweep over Afghanistan as both sides meet today on Saturday at Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo.
The final game of the series will start today at 2:30 local time as Babar Azam-led Team Green will be eager to showcase their talent, skill, and temperament against northwestern neighbors.
Men in Green dominated Afghanistan right throughout the 3-game series as they came hard in the first ODI match, and thrashed Afghanistan by 59 runs. In the second match, Afghan openers were on a rampage as they gave a huge target of 300.
Despite strong effort with the bat, Babar XI chased not so easy target with just 1 wicket and 1 ball to spare.
After the last win, the Green Shirts gained an unassailable lead (2-0) while Afghanistan will look to put up a tough fight to avoid a clean sweep.
Pakistan Squad
Imam ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf/Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Afghanistan Squad
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ikram Alikhil, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Abdul Rahman, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Pakistan vs Afghanistan ODI Live Streaming
The match will be live telecast on PTV sports while several apps will also provide live scoring details to the cricket fans.
