Pakistan destroys Afghanistan in the opening ODI thanks
ISLAMABAD:A career-best five-wicket haul from fiery pacer Haris Rauf on Tuesday helped Pakistan thrash Afghanistan by 142 runs in the opening one-day international in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. After Pakistan was bowled out for 201 in 47.1 overs, Rauf’s devastating 5-18 in 6.2 overs reduced Afghanistan to their second-lowest ODI totals of 59 in a mind-boggling 19.2 overs.
In the first bilateral series between the two countries, Pakistan now leads the three-match series 1-0.. After fellow fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Ibrahim Zadran (nought) and Rahmat Shah (nought) off consecutive deliveries in the third over, Rauf continued the demolition act.
He then handed the ball to Rauf to finish the thrashing. Ikram Alikhil (four), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (18), Mohammad Nabi (seven), Rashid Khan (naught), and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (four) were all dismissed by Rauf to complete the defeat.
The 22-year-old bowled out Babar Azam, the top hitter in the world, for a third-ball duck to finish with 3-33, while Nabi and Rashid each had 2-34 and 2-42. Pakistan’s much-touted batting crumbled on a slow Hambantota stadium pitch, with only opener Imam-ul-Haq (94 off 61), Shadab Khan (39), and Iftikhar Ahmed (30) providing any fight.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman for two runs off the fourth ball of the game before Rahman removed Azam and Mohammad Rizwan (21) in his first spell. Before Nabi quickly dismissed Haq and Ahmed, Haq stabilized the innings with a fifth wicket stand of 50 with Ahmed and another 40 with Shadab.
There were only two limits in Haq’s 17th half century. Acclaimed spinner Rashid contributed by taking out Shaheen Shah Afridi for two runs and Agha Salman for seven. Shadab hit three boundaries in his 50-ball innings.
Published in EDP BLOGS on August 23,2023.
