Fazalhaq Farooqi and Najibullah Zadran helped Afghanistan to clinch a hard-fought T20I series with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the second match on March 26.Fazalhaq Farooqi and Najibullah Zadran helped Afghanistan to clinch a hard-fought T20I series with a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the second match in Sharjah.
For the first time, Afghanistan overcame a side which is in the top six of the ICC rankings with a match to spare. Farooqi (2/19) led the solid bowling department as Afghanistan restricted Pakistan to 130/6. Farooqi struck twice in the first over after Shadab Khan-led Pakistan opted to bat.
The left-arm pacer dismissed Saim Ayub for a two-ball duck and Abdullah Shafique for a golden duck on successive balls.
- Mohammad Haris and Tayyab Tahir’s attempt to rebuild Pakistan’s innings did not last long. While Naveen-ul-Haq removed Haris (15), Karim Janat sent back Tayyab for 13.
- Imad Wasim (64* off 57), alongside Shadab (32 off 25), played a fighting knock to give Pakistan bowlers something to defend.
- In reply, although Afghanistan lost their opener Usman Ghani (7) early on, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran kept on frustrating Pakistani bowlers.
Gurbaz and Zadran’s 56-run partnership ended when Naseem Shah ran out Gurbaz for 44. One brought two as Zadran (38) was dismissed by Ihsanullah. Just when Pakistan thought they had made a comeback, Najibullah and Mohammad Nabi started firing as the asking run rate was shooting.
Najibullah (23* off 12) and Nabi (14* off 9) took Afghanistan home on the fifth ball of the final-over thriller.
Afghanistan will host Pakistan for the third T20I on March 27 in Sharjah.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said: “Great effort with the ball, and then we took it deep and finished it. This wicket is always a 150-160 wicket but Pakistan-Afghanistan game is pressure game and that makes it 125-130. 130 was a good total.
“We tried our best to take it deep and finish it. Strategy was to go there and make sure you take responsibility. We have players to finish it like Nabi and Najib. Main thing was to have wickets in hand.”
Rashid Khan lavished praise on his team and also opened up about his team strategy.
while chasing the total against Afghanistan saying that Strategy was to go there and make sure you take responsibility. Take it deep and try to finish it. We have players to finish it like Nabi and Najib. Main thing was to have wickets in hand.
- Great honour and pleasure to lead this wonderful team. Great effort with the ball, and then we took it deep and finished it off.
- This wicket is always a 150-160 wicket. But Pakistan-Afghanistan game is pressure game and that makes it 125-130.
- 130 was a good total, but we tried our best to take it deep and finish it. Strategy was to go there and make sure you take responsibility.
- Take it deep and try to finish it. We have players to finish it like Nabi and Najib.
- Main thing was to have wickets in hand” said Rashid Khan in post match conference.
- Afghanistan will now play the third T20I against Pakistan on March 27, Monday at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah which will start at 9.30 PM IST.