Dubai: Asif Ali once again rose to the occasion, walking out in the middle of a high-pressure situation and hitting four sixes to ensure Pakistan won their T20I clash against Afghanistan Friday.
Pakistan were struggling to find their feet after wicketkeeper batsman and opener Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman were dismissed by Afghanistan spinners Rashid Khan, Mujeeb and Nabi.
Pakistan needed 148 runs to win their third T20 World Cup clash against Afghanistan and qualify for the semi-finals.
Skipper Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman had formed a solid partnership before Nabi dismissed the left-handed batsman, trapping him lbw.
Babar Azam scored another half-century to ease some pressure off Afghanistan. However, the Pakistani skipper was once dropped off a Rashid Khan delivery.
However, Rashid Khan deceived him for the second time in the same over, this time bowling him out.
He was not Rashid Khan’s first wicket, though.
Mohammad Hafeez never looked settled on the crease and an economical over by Rashid Khan put him further under pressure. The Afghan spinner dismissed Hafeez as he attempted to hit him out of the park, caught instead by Gulbadin.
Earlier after struggling against Pakistan’s bowling attack, Afghanistan managed to recover courtesy of an impressive partnership between Gulbadin and Nabi, who steered their country to 147 runs at the end of 20 overs.
Earlier, With three wickets down, Afghanistan were already in trouble when Hassan Ali took a wicket from his very first ball, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz, caught by skipper Babar Azam.
Afghanistan kept on ticking the scoreboard with sixes and fours, however, the Pakistani bowlers also did not refrain from tacking wickets.
Karim Janat tried to hit Imad Wasim for a six but the ball ended up in Fakhar Zaman’s hands, with Afghanistan losing their fifth wicket.
—Agencies

KR Desk