Pakistan in Colombo on Saturday Afghanistan Whitewashed the three-match series by defeating them by 59 runs in the third one-day match.
After winning this series, Pakistan moved to the first position in the ICC ODI rankings, pushing Australia to the second position.
Sri Lanka In the match being played in the capital of Colombo, Pakistan batted first and scored 268 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.
The first wicket fell to opener Fakhar Zaman for a total of 36, when he was caught out by Riyaz Hussain off Afghan bowler Gulbuddin Naib. He scored 27 runs off 33 balls.
The other batsman to be dismissed was Imam-ul-Haq, who scored 13 runs off 30 balls. He was also caught out by Rahmanullah Garbaz on Naib’s ball.
Captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan showed a good partnership on this occasion and brought the score to 162. Babar scored 60 runs in the 37th over and caught Garbaz on Rashid Khan’s ball.
After him, Saud Shakeel was run out after scoring nine runs without adding any major score.
Pakistan’s fifth loss came in the form of Rizwan (67 runs) being LBW. He was dismissed by Fareed Ahmed in the 40th over.
After Shadab Khan was bowled for just three runs, Pakistan looked in a difficult situation. However, Agha Salman (38* runs) and Mohammad Nawaz (30 runs) avoided further damage and took the score to 250.
Pakistan’s eighth wicket fell in the form of Faheem Ashraf, who was caught out by Garbaz off Farid Ahmed after scoring two runs at the score of 266.
For Afghanistan, Gulbuddin Naib and Fareed Ahmed took two wickets each, while Fazlul Haq Farooqui, Mujibur Rehman and Arshad Khan took one wicket each.
Chasing 269 runs, Afghanistan started batting for a total score of just 17 and suffered the first loss due to the dismissal of opener Garbaz.
Garbaz was lbw by Faheem in the sixth over. In the tenth over, the other Afghan batsman Ibrahim Zardan scored 34 runs and caught Fakhar Zaman off the ball of Shadab Khan.
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Apart from Zadran and Shahidullah (37 runs), none of Afghanistan’s top five batsmen failed to score big and half the team had returned to the pavilion at a total score of 62 in the 21st over.
At no point did Afghanistan give Pakistan a hard time in pursuit of the target. Mujibur Rahman showed good resistance first with Rashid (16 runs) and then Farid Ahmed.
He took a very aggressive approach against Pakistan’s excellent bowling line and entertained the spectators for a while by scoring 64 runs off 37 balls with the help of five sixes and five fours.
He was bowled by Shaheen Afridi in the 46th over. The entire Afghanistan team was dismissed for 209 runs in the 49th over.
For Pakistan, Shadab stood out with three wickets. Apart from them, Faheem and Nawaz took two wickets each while Shaheen and Agha Salman took one wicket each.
Earlier, in the second match of the series played on August 24, Pakistan’s fast bowler Naseem Shah repeated the history and gave his team a one-wicket victory in the last over against Afghanistan.
In the first match of the series, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 142 runs.
Afghanistan’s home series has been held in Sri Lanka due to security concerns.
After the first bilateral ODI series between the two teams, the six-nation Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and Pakistan will begin from August 30 and the World Cup will be played in India from October 5.
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Interview with Cricket Analyst, Ali Raza, on Pakistan’s ODI Series Victory Over Afghanistan
Editor: Welcome, Ali! Let’s dive right into it. Pakistan recently wrapped up an ODI series against Afghanistan in Colombo, where they lost the final match yet clinched the series overall. What are your thoughts on their performance?
Ali Raza: Thank you for having me! Pakistan’s overall performance throughout the series was commendable, but it’s clear they struggled in the last match. Despite that 59-run loss, the earlier victories were crucial in securing their spot at the top of the ICC ODI rankings, which is a significant achievement.
Editor: Indeed! In the final match, Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan had a notable partnership. How crucial do you think their contributions were to the team’s innings?
Ali Raza: Very crucial! Babar’s 60 runs and Rizwan’s 67 laid a solid foundation for Pakistan, especially after a shaky start. Their ability to build the innings helped the team to post a competitive total of 268. Partnerships at the top order are essential, and they delivered under pressure.
Editor: Afghanistan started their chase poorly, losing early wickets. How do you evaluate their batting performance in this match?
Ali Raza: Afghanistan’s batting was certainly disappointing. They lost their first wicket early and never really recovered. None of their top batsmen managed to score significantly; it was only Ibrahim Zadran and Shahidullah who got runs, but they were unable to build momentum. When half the team falls for just 62 runs, it’s challenging to set a fighting target.
Editor: So, ultimately, what does this series mean for Pakistan as they look ahead to future competitions?
Ali Raza: This series victory is a confidence booster. Being at the top of the ICC ODI rankings will inspire the team moving forward. However, they need to address their batting inconsistencies, especially when under pressure. They must build on this success as they prepare for bigger tournaments ahead.
Editor: Great insights, Ali! Thanks for joining us to discuss Pakistan’s performance in the series against Afghanistan.
Ali Raza: Thank you! Always a pleasure to share thoughts on our beloved game of cricket.
Pakistan’s innings?
Ali Raza: Their partnership was absolutely vital. Babar Azam, with his 60 runs, and Rizwan, who scored 67, formed a solid backbone for the team. Their ability to stabilize the innings after early wickets helped Pakistan set a competitive total of 268. Without their contributions, the situation could have been quite different.
Editor: Afghanistan showed some fight with Mujibur Rahman scoring a quick 64 runs, but ultimately fell short. What were the key factors in Pakistan’s bowling performance that hampered Afghanistan?
Ali Raza: Pakistan’s bowling attack was strategic and effective. Shadab Khan’s three wickets were a turning point, and both Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz also picked up crucial wickets. They maintained pressure right from the start, which forced Afghanistan into some reckless shots. Mujibur’s explosive innings was impressive, but it was too little, too late as the rest of the team couldn’t build on that momentum.
Editor: With this series win, Pakistan not only secured the top spot in ODI rankings but also set the tone for upcoming tournaments like the Asia Cup and the World Cup. How do you think this victory will impact their confidence heading into those tournaments?
Ali Raza: This victory is bound to boost their confidence significantly. Establishing themselves as the top ODI team creates a psychological edge. However, they must address the inconsistencies displayed in the last match. If they can build on their strengths and rectify their weaknesses, they could be formidable contenders in both the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
Editor: Great insights, Ali! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Pakistan’s series victory and what lies ahead for them.
Ali Raza: Thank you for having me! It’s always exciting to discuss cricket and I’m looking forward to the upcoming tournaments.
