By Brian Thomas
What a spectacle in the UAE today as Pakitan had the chew their nails to beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets wìth one over to spare.
7 balls to spare is termed as a big win in the T 20 format , but not in thus game.
At the end of the 17th over Pakistan needed 24 runs from 12 balls with 5 wickets in hand. Luckily for Pakistan Asif Ali was at the wickets. He did a power punch against New Zealand to see his side through in Pakistan’s ladt game. This dynomo did the same today as he cartered Karim Janet for 18 runs , with 3 massive sixes to take Pakistan from a stone throwing distance to secure a slot in the semi finals.
Batting first Afghanistan did well to get to 147 for 6 wickets after a dismal batting display by the top order. Wasim Imad , with 2 scalps , Shameen Afridi , with Haris Rauf kept close vigil on the big hitting Afganistan batting , hence they made only 93 runs for 6 wickets in the 15th over.
Mohamed Nabi , and Galbadin Naib packed a punch in the last 5 overs and made 53 runs to get them to a defendable total of 147 for 6 wickets. Both Nabi’s remained unbeaten on 35.
Pakistan by their standards had an easy target. By the 15th over the green lads were 101 for 4 wickets , with plenty of batting in the bank.
Barbar Azam made 51 , Fakir Zaman 30 , Shohaib Mallik 19 , hence all was good till Rasid Khan and dismissed Babar Azam for 51 and Fakir Zaman for 30.
The Pakistanis choked after Shohaib Malik departed for 19 and suddenly with the score on 124 for 5 wickets at the end of 18 overs , the Afghans saw a light in the tunel to spoil Pakistans party.
Asif Ali , remember that name. He packed a punch and the game was over based on his sheer power as he tore kareem Janet for 3 big sixes in one over and Pakistan got home by 5 wickets.
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