Pakistan -Afghanistan ODI Series 
2nd Match 
Brief Score Card 
Afghanistan 300/5 (Ramanullah Gurbaz 151, Ibrahim Zadran 80, Mohammad Nabi 29, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/58, Nassem Shah 1/45) 
Pakistan 302/9 in 49.5 Overs (Imamul Haq 91, Babar Azam 53, Shadab Khan 48, Fakhar Zaman 30, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3/69, Mohammad Nabi 2/46) 
Pakistan Won by 1 Wicket with one ball to spare. 
Pakistan leads the series by 2-0 
Player of the match: Shadab Khan.

In a dramatic match of fluctuating fortune brave Afghanistan went down fighting to their mighty neighbor Pakistan by 1 wicket with only a ball to spare. In the first match of series played only a couple of days back Afghanistan was blown away by Haris Rauf tornado getting bundled out for merely 59 runs chasing a modest Pakistan score of 201. 

Yesterday Afghan openers batted superbly setting their highest opening partnership in ODI ,227 to be exact. Flamboyant Ramanullah Gurbaz blasted run a ball 151 and his partner Ibrahim Zadran scored 80 in 101 deliveries. Once Pakistan managed getting rid of both Afghanistan could reach 300/5 still a very challenging score. However, Pakistan kept their nerves and managed to pip Afghans to the post in a thrilling finish reaching 302/9 in 49.5 Overs. Pakistan wrapped up the series 2-0 with a match yet to play. Both teams had useful preparation with the most important Asia cup only about a week away. 

The most important feature of the match was that Haris Rauf who claimed his career best 5 wickets haul in the first match went wicketless. Afghan openers batted bravely against fearsome Pakistani pace attack. However, lack of depth of Afghanistan batting could not lead Afghans batting Pakistan out of the match. After a 227 opening stand Afghans could have scored 320-330 runs. If that happened, they could have upset Pakistan. However, what they did gave a major scare for the title aspirant Pakistan. 

After the dismal batting performance of Afghanistan against the hostile Pakistan fast bowling attack in the first ODI there was a thought that Afghans would be blown away yet again in the second match. But brave Afghans fighting tooth and nail proved all wrong. 

Ramanullah Gurbaz (151 in 151 balls ) and his more polished partner Ibrahim Zadran (80 in 101 deliveries ) set a solid foundation of 227 runs opening partnership in 39.5 overs before rookie Pakistan pacer Usama Mir could get rid of Zadran. Zadran’s innings of 80 featured 6 fours and 2 sixes. 

Shaheen Shah Afridi then managed to remove Ramanulla Gurbaz for a run a ball 151, Gurbaz struck 14 fours and 3 sixes. Unfortunately, other than Mohammad Nabi scoring 29 no other Afghans could contribute. 

Still 300/5 was a competitive score considering the wealth of bowling resources of Pakistan and the bowling strength of the Afghans. However, Fakhar Zaman (30) and Imam Ul Haq (91) gave a good start of 52 in the first wicket. Babar Azam and Imam then put together 118 runs in the second wicket partnership before Babar left scoring 53. Afghan bowlers kept on taking wickets reducing Pakistan to 8/272 in 47.4 overs. 

Afghans started dreaming for an upset getting Shadab Khan run out while backing up for a brave 48. Pakistan was required to score another 7 runs in 5 deliveries with last pair Nasim Shah and Haris Rauf at the wicket. Pakistan pair managed doing that getting across as Nasim belted the penultimate ball across the fence. The nail bitter witnessed Pakistan winning by the barest of margin 1 wicket with a ball to spare. Would like to say that both teams had a very useful practice with Asia cup just round the corner.

BDST: 1455 HRS, AUGUST 25, 2023
MSK