In a stunning turn of events at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Having won just one World Cup match in the previous two editions, Afghanistan has now outplayed two cricket giants, England and Pakistan, both of whom were considered favorites in the tournament. This performance can only be described as clinical and extraordinary.
The match took place on a slow and challenging Chepauk track, and Afghanistan faced the tough task of chasing a tricky score. Pakistan batted first and managed to reach 282 runs, largely thanks to 40s from Iftikhar and Shadab, which seemed to be a competitive total. However, what followed was a masterclass from Afghanistan.
The Afghan team, after losing the toss, opted for a bold strategy by fielding four frontline spinners. The game did not start in their favor, as Pakistan reached 56/0 in the first powerplay. But Afghanistan didn’t lose hope. They made a strong comeback during the second powerplay, with their spinners slowing down Pakistan’s run rate and taking crucial wickets.
When it was Afghanistan’s turn to bat, they got off to a flying start, with Gurbaz hitting a boundary off the very first ball. The openers formed a remarkable partnership, both scoring fifties, leaving Pakistan looking perplexed. While Shaheen managed to break the stand, Rahmat and Zadran continued to build the scoreboard. It seemed that Afghanistan might be in trouble when the asking rate crossed 6 runs per over in the 36th over, largely thanks to a superb spell by Hasan Ali. However, Afghanistan remained calm.
Captain Shahidi, though taking some time to find his form, was aided by some subpar deliveries from the Pakistani spinners. Surprisingly, Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, did not opt for a pace attack, and the Rahmat-Shahidi duo played a risk-free game, guiding their team to victory with an over to spare. It was a comprehensive performance by Afghanistan, showcasing their superiority in all three departments.
Impressive Cricket World Cup Records for Afghanistan
This victory is particularly historic for Afghanistan as it marks their first-ever win over Pakistan in One Day Internationals (ODIs). The Afghan team celebrated this momentous achievement with a lap of honor after their captain hit the winning runs.
In the history of Afghanistan’s participation in ODI World Cups, this win against Pakistan joins their previous notable victories, including a nail-biting one-wicket win over Scotland in 2015 and a 69-run victory against England in 2023.
The high total of 286 runs against Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup becomes one of Afghanistan’s highest totals in World Cup matches. In the same tournament, they also managed to score 284 against England. Additionally, Afghanistan has successfully chased down high targets, with the 283-run chase against Pakistan marking a new record.
This victory against Pakistan in 2023 adds another chapter to the history books as Afghanistan becomes the highest target-chaser against Pakistan in World Cup matches.
The match against Pakistan also witnessed a remarkable record, with the most overs bowled by spinners in a World Cup match. Afghanistan contributed to this record, bowling 59.0 overs of spin, showcasing their spin-bowling prowess.
The spinners’ performances in the match were crucial, with Afghanistan’s spinners bowling 38 overs, taking four wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 4.6. On the other hand, Pakistan’s spinners struggled to make an impact, bowling 21 overs, conceding 131 runs, and failing to pick up any wickets.
In terms of individual achievements, Rahmat Shah emerged as the top run-scorer for Afghanistan in ODI World Cups, with 404 runs to his name, followed by Hashmatullah Shahidi with 365 runs and Najibullah Zadran with 360 runs.
For Pakistan, defending totals of 275 or more in World Cup matches has been a reasonably successful endeavor, with 13 wins and just one loss, which came against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s remarkable victory over Pakistan has created waves in the cricketing world, and it’s a testament to the team’s growing strength and determination. This win serves as a reminder that in cricket, anything is possible, and underdogs can rise to the occasion and achieve the extraordinary. Afghanistan’s cricket journey continues to inspire cricket fans worldwide, and their future in the sport looks bright and promising.
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