Afghanistan shocked rivals Pakistan by securing a historic victory at the Cricket World Cup; this triumph marked the second time Afghanistan defied the odds in this tournament, stunning cricket fans and experts alike. After their earlier sensational win over England, the ninth-ranked Afghan team showcased their mettle by thumping Pakistan, a cricketing powerhouse, by eight wickets. This victory made it a milestone in Afghanistan’s cricket history, as they triumphed for the first time in consecutive games at a World Cup event.
Afghanistan Shocks Pakistan With their Commanding Performance
The Afghan team’s path to victory was paved by an aggressive 130-run opening partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 87 and 65 runs, respectively. This dynamic duo set the stage for Afghanistan to post a formidable total of 286-2 in 49 overs against Pakistan’s pace and spin bowling, which seemed out of sorts on the day. The young talents were well supported by Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who shared an unbeaten 96-run third-wicket stand to seal the historic win.
Pakistan Faces Yet Another Disappointment
Pakistan, who won the toss and elected to bat, could only manage 282-7 against Afghanistan’s spin-heavy quartet. Captain Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique played crucial roles in their innings, both scoring half-centuries. However, Pakistan’s inability to break through Afghanistan’s batting lineup proved costly; this loss marked Pakistan’s first defeat in a one-day international (ODI) against Afghanistan, an outcome they had never experienced before.
As Pakistan now faces a must-win situation for a spot in the semifinals, Afghanistan’s slim hopes for the same spot have been reignited. Both teams stand with four points each, making the competition intense. With this victory, Afghanistan rose to the sixth position in the World Cup standings, leaving England at the bottom. In this rollercoaster of a World Cup, the top four teams from the round-robin stage will make their way to the semifinals.
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