Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by three wickets in the Asia Cup’s Super-4 match, with Shoaib Malik steering them to victory in the last over with back-to-back boundaries.
Malik scored 51, not out, with Imam-ul-Haq chipping in with 80 and Babar Azam with 66.
Batting first, Afghanistan scored 257-6 with Hashmatullah Shahidi, finishing at a brilliantly-paced 118-ball 97 not out, and added 94 for the fourth wicket with his skipper Asghar Afghan, who smashed five sixes and two fours in his 56-ball 67.
But it was Shahidi who held one end against Pakistan’s bowling in an innings which featured seven boundaries after left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (3-57) had put the brakes on Afghanistan’s early progress.
Shahidi had added 63 for the third wicket with Rahmat Shah who scored a measured 36.
The total is an improvement by Afghanistan after scoring 249 and 255 in their previous two wins against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Pakistani fielders dropped four catches — three off debutant paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi who finished with 2-38.
After defeating Bangladesh in the final match of the group stage by 136 runs on Thursday, Afghanistan are looking to create another upset when they take on Green Shirts.
Spinner Rashid Khan scored a fifty and took two wickets as Afghanistan maintained their winning run in the tournament.
Here’s how twitter reacts:
Pakistan’s best player under pressure is still Shoaib Malik
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 21, 2018
Bhai @realshoaibmalik sunday ko sasural walon ke khilaaf bhi aese hee. Acha?
— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) September 21, 2018
Terrific gesture by the legend @realshoaibmalik – went to hug Aftab who was very emotional & crying. The Freddie-Lee moment relived. pic.twitter.com/0eBC0ZNszf
— Kalim Khan (@Kallerz37) September 21, 2018
Such a down to earth personality, Love you from the core of my heart @realshoaibmalik ! Thankyou for the playing effortlessly! You are amazing x Pakistan Zindabaaad.🇵🇰
— 🌻 (@sehrishjsultan) September 21, 2018
Shoaib Malik can fuck me 😍😭😭
— Ahmed (@AhmedDamn) September 21, 2018
Pakistan making teams cry since forever pic.twitter.com/wjmLrjDgdL
— عُمر (@Keyb0ardMujahid) September 21, 2018
Shoaib Malik can bring peace in the region. pic.twitter.com/CXwcUpJAvZ
— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) September 21, 2018
Pakistan has a history of making sneks cry in Asia cup. pic.twitter.com/fxj1aVWges
— ع م ر! 🇵🇰 (@omeralvii) September 21, 2018
“Sarfraz dhoka nah…..”
Me: pic.twitter.com/9aDYbcwNFi
— ع م ر! 🇵🇰 (@omeralvii) September 21, 2018
Rashid Khan deserved that six. I kove you Hasan Ali <3
— sunshine (@madheadwayfarer) September 21, 2018
Asif Ali ne Afridi ki kami mehsoos nahi hone di.
— Sir Saith Abdullah (@SaithAbdullah99) September 21, 2018
@ afghanis pic.twitter.com/XqTYEjXC5k
— Ali (@AleyFarooqq) September 21, 2018
TO ALL PAKISTANIS HATERS#PakvAfg pic.twitter.com/uxxVwGLHH0
— Ahsan. 🇵🇰 (@imPakistaniLAD) September 21, 2018
Shoaib Malik right now 😎😁#PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/s7HPh49nEv
— Mamoon (@I_m_No_One_) September 21, 2018
‘rulatay hain tou chup bhi karatay hain’ pic.twitter.com/VV241X4bpe
— Ali (@AleyFarooqq) September 21, 2018
The best reply to Afghans! I felt really bad how they were reacting during the whole match! #PakvsAfg is going to be the next biggest rivalry #PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/Px2PKpzpg8
— Junaid Arshad (@junaid_arsh) September 21, 2018
Sochta hun ki Kya se kya
wo kitne ho gaye
masoom the. dekhte dekhte. pic.twitter.com/ya69jtsQsZ— Blossom🌸 (@_blossom_22) September 21, 2018
Y Malik ne last boundary kahan mari?? pic.twitter.com/IrUN417P1p
— ǝɹnɯ 💋 (@Nimkendoll) September 21, 2018
— i r f a n (@IffiViews) September 21, 2018
