Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first against Afghanistan in the 22nd match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The match started on Monday, 23 October 2023 at 08:30 AM UTC. Both teams made no changes to their playing XI from their previous matches. Pakistan had won two of their four games, while Afghanistan’s only win came against England.
Pakistan posts a competitive total of 282/7
Pakistan got off to a steady start as openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq added 56 runs for the first wicket. Shafique scored 58 runs in 75 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Imam made 17 runs in 22 balls with two fours. Afghanistan’s spinners put the squeeze on Pakistan as they picked up regular wickets in the middle overs. Mohammad Nabi was the most economical bowler, conceding only 31 runs in his 10 overs and taking one wicket. Naveen-ul-Haq and Noor Ahmad were the most successful bowlers, taking three wickets each.
Pakistan’s middle order was held together by Babar Azam, who scored a fluent 74 runs in 92 balls with four fours and one six. He shared a 64-run partnership with Shadab Khan, who scored 40 runs in 38 balls with one four and one six. Iftikhar Ahmed provided the late impetus with a quickfire 40 runs in 27 balls with two fours and four sixes. He was dismissed in the last over by Naveen-ul-Haq, who also removed Shaheen Afridi for three runs. Pakistan finished with a competitive total of 282/7 in their 50 overs.
Afghanistan off to a flying start in chase of 283
Afghanistan’s openers Rahmatullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran gave their team a flying start in chase of 283 runs. They added 88 runs for the first wicket in 13.5 overs, scoring at a rate of over six runs per over. Gurbaz was the more aggressive of the two, scoring 43 runs in 34 balls with eight fours. Zadran was more cautious, scoring 45 runs in 49 balls with seven fours.
Pakistan’s pace attack of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali failed to make any breakthroughs in the first powerplay. They conceded too many boundaries and were unable to create any pressure on the Afghan batsmen. Usman Mir, the leg-spinner, was introduced into the attack in the ninth over, but he also proved ineffective. Shadab Khan, the captain and all-rounder, bowled the last over before lunch break and gave away nine runs.
At lunch break, Afghanistan were well placed at 88/0 in 13.5 overs, needing another 195 runs to win from 36.1 overs with all ten wickets in hand.
