Pakistan Bowled Out Afghanistan for 59 Defending 202 in the first ODI
Pakistan, once again, has proved that it can win low scoring matches because of its sharp and striking bowling attack. Led by Haris Rauf, Pakistan produced an all compassing set-up of pace and swing with definite accuracy that bundled up Afghanistan for 59 runs when defending only 201 runs.
In the first innings, Afghanistan bowlers did a terrific job to restrict Pakistan under a below par score of 201 runs. Largely due their spinning trio, they were able to strangle the Pakistan’s batting order consisting of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Agha Salman. The leg spin of Rashid Khan, mystery spin of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and accuracy of Mohammad Nabi did all the damage.
Pakistan won the match by 142 runs.
Bowlers Dominated Afghanistan v Pakistan First ODI
First it was Afghanistan’s bowlers who were on roll and gave no chance whatsoever to Pakistan’s batting order. Only Shadab Khan, Imam ul haq and Iftikhar Ahmad could contribute something substantial to push the team’s score above 200.
The match was played at Hambantota. Definitely, it was sluggish pitch which didn’t allow batters from either side to play free flowing shots. Only cautious batting could survive on this track. Defending 202, Shaheen shah Afridi gave the first blow to Afghanistan in the form of Ibrahim Zadran. Then on the very next ball, Rahmat Shah played a dolly into the hands of Salman, leaving Afghanistan 3/2.
From thereon, the trouble for Afghanistan went deeper and deeper. Naseem Shah dismissed Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi for a duck. 3 of Afghanistan’s top four batters went back to pavallion without scoring a single run.
However, the real destruction started in 8th over when Haris Rauf came to the scene with a blistering pace. Rauf’s first prey was Ikram Alikhil who couldn’t handle the pace of Rauf. The most beautiful wicket of the day was when Rauf dismissed Afghanistan’s prime leg spinner Rashid Khan with an absolute snorter.
The ball came and hit the stumps before Rashid could realise that it was there.
Rauf, in his 6 overs spell, bagged 5 wickets and the important thing about his bowling was that he kept attacking either body or wicket, giving no time to the batters to have a sigh of relief. In the end, Afghanistan were bowled out for 59 with Azmatullah Omarzai retired hurt.
As a bowling group, this is the job done for team. Coming to the attack, I planned to hit hard lenths. Shaheen and Naseem bowled well
All three Pakistan’s pacers had the economy rate of under 3. This tells how suffocating the batting was there out in the middle for Afghanistan. On the other hand, Pakistan’s struggle against spin is a real concern. In the upcoming tournament, they will be tested relentlessly against their exposed weakness.
