Asif Ali seals tricky deal for Pakistan with six spree
With 24 needed from 12 balls, Asif hit four sixes off Janat in the 19th over to win it
With 24 needed from 12 balls, Asif hit four sixes off Janat in the 19th over to win it
Scorer: M Venkat Raghav | Commentator: @PeterDellaPenna
Right, what a contest that was. Peter and I had so much fun covering this, and an absolutely huge number of you joined us. We appreciate each one of you, and hope you join us again for the double-header tomorrow! Good night.
"The bowlers bowled brilliantly at the start, but I think we gave 10-15 runs too many away. We didn't quite use the Powerplay as well as we hoped but Asif and Shoaib Malik at the death were brilliant. The way Asif's played many innings at the PSL, I was very confident he'd get us out of any trouble we find ourselves in.
"We had to bowl according to the situation and see how to bowl to each batter. The bowlers deserve credit for executing those plans brilliantly. The spinners were getting a lot of help, and because Afghanistan have some of the best pinners, they were getting a lot of help and bowling really well. I wanted to stay till the end but got out, unfortunately. So credit to Asif Ali," concludes a relieved Babar Azam.
"We didn't start really well - the total on the board was decent but maybe not enough," Muhammad Nabi says. "We discussed that 150 was a decent score on the pitch, and we did manage to take the game deep. I thought Rashid bowled at the right time because at 10 overs, they still needed about 8 runs an over, but Asif Ali played that 19th over really well. There are many positives to take from this. We fought to the end and it's given me more motivation to win games."
Muhammad Faisal: "President Asif Ali not Zardari
9.36 pm What a tremendous match. So much energy, so many momentum swings from start to finish. Afghanistan would've felt like they had the upper hand after that 18th over, and yet the chase never made it to the 20th. Pakistan firm up their place at the top of the table with three wins from three.
Asif Ali is the Player of the Match after that rousing finish (translated from Urdu): "The boundary was small from this end so I told my partner I'd go for it this over. Thank God we pulled it off. I look at the situation and what it demands and which bowler has overs remaining, and the field setting. I told Shoaib that Naveen was bowling well, and from this end I could even score 25 in an over. So I planned for it."
Pakistan one shot away from victory.
Is another six on the way now to follow the pattern?
5th bowler letting Afghanistan down in a massive way right now.
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Faith shown by Islamabad pays off in Pakistan's hour of need
With 24 needed from 12 balls, Asif hit four sixes off Janat in the 19th over to win it
Spinner's captivating spell goes unrewarded as fusillade of sixes seal pulsating contest
Pakistan's interim head coach warned that Afghanistan would be dangerous opponents because of their "fearless" approach
First Round Group A | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
SL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3.754 |
NAM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -0.523 |
IRE | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.853 |
NED | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.46 |
First Round Group B | |||||
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
SCOT | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0.775 |
BAN | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1.733 |
OMA | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.025 |
PNG | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.655 |
Group 1 | |||||
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
ENG | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2.464 |
AUS | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1.216 |
SA | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0.739 |
SL | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -0.269 |
WI | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -1.641 |
BAN | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -2.383 |
Group 2 | |||||
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
PAK | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 1.583 |
NZ | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1.162 |
IND | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1.747 |
AFG | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1.053 |
NAM | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -1.89 |
SCOT | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -3.543 |