With a clean sweep victory in the PAK vs. AFG ODI series, Pakistan topped the ODI Rankings thanks to a team effort from the bowlers after half-centuries from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Pakistan reach ODI Rankings: In spite of Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s quick fifty, Afghanistan could only raise 209 in the third ODI between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The hosts had only 30 runs on the board when they lost their two top hitters, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (five) and Ibrahim Zadran (zero), in the tenth over of the chase.
After consecutive dismissals, Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi joined new opener Riaz Hassan, and the two added 30 runs for the third wicket.
The two batted cautiously before Shadab Khan removed both hitters in the same over, precipitating a collapse in Afghanistan’s batting order.
Shahidi struck a 13 off 31 balls, while Riaz scored a cautious 34 off 66 deliveries.
When Mohammad Nabi (3) and Rashid Khan (16) returned to the dugout, Afghanistan had dropped to 97/7 in 32.1 overs after losing three more wickets in rapid succession.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who batted at number nine, offered some hope to the decimated Afghanistan team as he started a counterattack on the Pakistan bowlers with aggressive hitting.
He and Shahidullah put on an incredible 57-run partnership to keep Afghanistan in the game.
The majority of the runs were scored by Mujeeb during his eighth-wicket partnership with Shahidullah, who batted conservatively before succumbing to Shadab Khan in the 40th over.
Shahidullah hit two boundaries on route to a 37-run, 65-ball innings.
As Fareed Ahmad and Mujeeb put on another crucial partnership for Afghanistan, adding 45 runs for the ninth wicket, Mujeeb continued to dominate Pakistan’s bowlers with crisp hitting before succumbing in the 46th over.
He led Afghanistan in scoring with a quickfire 37-ball 64 that included five boundaries and the same number of sixes.
Then, in the penultimate over, Pakistan’s star bowler Shaheen sealed a commanding 59-run victory by dismissing Fareed (17).
With 3/42, Shadab Khan led Pakistan’s bowling assault. Shaheen, Faheem, and Nawaz each collected two wickets.
In the third PAK versus AFG ODI of the three-match series, Pakistan chose to bat first and amassed 268/8 thanks to linchpin half-centuries by Rizwan and Babar.
Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s opening duo, were unable to give their team a strong start as they only managed to score 36 runs before returning. In the ninth over, Gulbadin Naib removed the earlier batsman.
He was able to hit five boundaries and score 27 runs off of 33 deliveries.
Imam-ul-Haq, the in-form Pakistan opener, was dismissed by Naib in the 13th over after making a shaky 13 from 30 pitches and striking only one boundary.
Mohammad Rizwan joined Babar Azam at the crease as the team was in trouble at 52/2 after 12.5 overs, and the two formed a solid third-wicket partnership.
Before Rashid Khan dismissed the Pakistan captain, Babar and Rizwan scored 110 runs during their careful stand, each scoring half-centuries. This gave Afghanistan a much-needed victory.
On his way to an 86-ball 60, he hit four boundaries and a six.
After Babar’s dismissal, Pakistan swiftly lost four wickets in succession, including their key player Mohammad Rizwan, causing their total to slump to 189/6 in 41 overs.
Rizwan continued to lead Pakistan in scoring with a 79-ball 67 that included six boundaries and a six.
After the dip, Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Ali Agha forged a crucial 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket. They then accelerated the scoring rate in the final overs, with Nawaz getting bowled in the penultimate over.
He smacked two boundaries and a six in his quick 25-ball 30.
Agha, meanwhile, batted steadily throughout, scoring a 31-ball 38 that included four boundaries and a six.
In the third ODI between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Fareed Ahmad and Gulbadin Naib each picked up two wickets, while Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Rashid Khan each claimed one victim.