Afghanistan produced their second stunning win of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to beat Pakistan for the first time ever in a men’s ODI, winning by eight wickets in Chennai.

Set a target of 283 to win, Afghanistan’s top three all hit half-centuries as they produced a high-quality run chase to reach the target with eight wickets in hand and an over to spare.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz set the tempo early with a 53-ball 65 alongside fellow opener Ibrahim Zadran (87), before the excellent Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi finished the job with crucial contributions of 77* and 48* respectively.

Pakistan would have been happy enough with a total of 282/7 after being put under big pressure by Afghanistan’s four-pronged spin attack, led by the impressive Noor Ahmad (3/49).

Some big hits from Iftikhar Ahmed (40 from 27) lifted Pakistan to a competitive score after Abdullah Shafique (58) and Babar Azam (74) had set the platform.

But the target proved not quite big enough, as Afghanistan pulled off the historic chase.

Afghanistan’s dangerous openers let fly at the start of the chase, scoring 60 runs without loss in the opening powerplay to give the side the start they needed before spin could really play a part.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been a key presence at the top of the order throughout the tournament, and set the tone when he found the boundary off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s very first ball of the innings.

And it was Gurbaz who put Pakistan’s other high-profile pacer to the sword early on, hitting four fours in five balls off Haris Rauf in the eighth over to keep the momentum going.

Both Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran brought up fifties as Afghanistan’s openers took the attack to Pakistan’s spinners after seeing off the pace threat.

But Gurbaz’s onslaught came to an end when he took on the returning Shaheen Shah Afridi to depart for 65 from 53 balls, giving Pakistan the breakthrough that they desperately needed.

Rahmat Shah’s joined Ibrahim to negotiate the tricky middle overs, and the pair brought the required runs down to double figures with a handy partnership, setting up a big finish in Chennai.

But Pakistan kept the game very much alive when Hasan Ali removed key batter Zadran for 87 to set up a nail-biting finish.

Afghanistan’s batting efforts have heavily leaned on their young opening pair in recent times, but the experience of Rahmat and Hashmattulah Shah shone through as the pressure built in the back end of the innings.

With the required run rate always manageable at around a run-a-ball, Rahmat and Hashmattulah steered their team home in style, prompting jubilant scenes amongst the Afghanistan squad.

Agencies