Table of Contents
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Live Score, World Cup 2019:Shaheen Afridi claimed four wickets to restrict minnows Afghanistan to a modest 227 for nine from 50 overs. Asghar Afghan and Ikram Alikhil built a 64-run stand before Afghan was cleaned up by leg-spinner Shadab Khan for 42. Wicketkeeper-batsman Alikhil (24) holed out to left-arm spinner Imad Wasim but Najibullah Zadran’s scored a patient 54-ball 42 to take the Afghans past the 200-mark. Afridi returned to remove Zadran and Rashid Khan to finish as pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 4-47. Earlier, Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan fielded an unchanged side while Afghanistan made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Hamid Hassan in place of Dawlat Zadran.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Match 36 June 29 Live Score and Live Streaming
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Stat Attack: Afghanistan
Afghanistan end their innings on 227/9 in 50 overs.
This is now their 2nd highest total batting first in World Cups.
This is now their highest total batting 1st in WC 2019.
Afghanistan 227/9
An eventful last over from Mohammad Amir yields six runs as Afghanistan finish their innings on 227/9. A good show by Pakistan bowlers with Shaheen Afridi being the pick of them with four wickets.
Wahab strikes
A perfect yorker from Wahab Riaz and that’s it for Hamid Hassan as he was castled for 1. This is good bowling by Pakistan as Afghanistan are 220 for the loss of 9 wickets after 48.5 overs
Four for Afridi
Rashid Khan impressed everyone with his helicopter shot that went for a boundary but Shaheen Afridi got his revenge as Khan top edged the next delivery to Fakhar Zaman. Afghanistan 210/8
200 Up for Afghanistan
A brilliant boundary for Najibullah Zadran but Shaheen Afridi struck with the very next ball as he castled him for 42. He went for a wild shot but ended up chopping it onto his stumps. After 44.2 overs, Afghanistan are 202 for the loss of seven wickets
Onus on Zadran
41 overs gone. Afghanistan are 185 for the loss of six wickets. With the run rate reading 4.51 at the moment, Afghanistan will be looking to accelerate from this point. Najibullah Zadran is the set batsman at the crease and he will have to take responsibility now.
Najibullah not bothered
Six wickets down by Najibullah Zadran is still playing his natural game. He slammed Imad Wasim for two boundaries in the over as Afghanistan are 178 for the loss of six wickets.
Nabi out
Wahab Riaz strikes for Pakistan as Mohammad Nabi is caught for 16, Afghanistan 167/6. This is a big wicket for Pakistan as Nabi was capable of playing a big innings. However, he went for an extravagant shot and was caught in the deep by Mohammad Amir.
Welcome Boundaries
Two boundaries for Afghanistan in two overs as Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran are looking to steady the innings. A confident stroke from Zadran went through the cover region for four and in the next over, Nabi edged one past Sarfaraz Ahmed for a boundary. AFG 159/5
Amir continues to impress
Mohammed Amir has been outstanding today. He hasn’t picked up a wicket but he has threatened in every over, a bit of luck and he could’ve already ended with a couple of wickets on any other day.
Slow Progress
Pakistan have managed a stranglehold on Afghanistan here. Regular wickets have halted the Afghans progress and the Pakistan spinners have been brilliant, full marks to Sarfaraz Ahmed’s captaincy too.
Imad Wasim picks up his second
OUT! Loose shot from Ikram, he had done all the hardwork, got through the difficult period only to throw it away when it mattered the most. A flighted delivery from Imad, Ikram comes down the track and goes for a wild heave, only manages to top edge to long-on, Afghanistan five down.
Shadab removes Afghan
BOWLED! Shadab dishes out a leg spinner around off, at 87 kph, Afghan shimmies down the track for a big shot but fails to make any contact. The ball doesn’t turn much after landing and tickles the off stump. The attacking field set probably prompted Afghan to have a real go at it. But he is undone here due to his own aggression. The 64-run stand has been broken
Fifty partnership
Theres’ the fifty-run partnership between Asghar Afghan and Ikram Ali and it has come at a good time too, largely due to the onslaught by the former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan.
This is the 2nd time this duo are batting together in ODIs. This is now the highest partnership by runs between this duo. This is now the 2nd highest partnership by runs for the 4th wicket by Afghanistan in WC 2019 (highest is 94 between A Afghan & H Shahidi)
SIX
Brilliant shot from Asghar Afghan. Once again lovely use of the feet and this time the connection is good. The ball lands over the mid wicket boundary, second six for Afghan, 13 runs from Shadab Khan’s over.
Goot shot
FOUR! Nice stroke from Asghar Afghan, a little shimmy to get to the pitch pf the ball and drills it over extra cover. It looks like Afghan has decided not to let the spinners settle in.
Asghar Afghan on the charge
Asghar Afghan has come out with intent. He has decided to take Imad Wasim on and has got the first six of the match too.
Imad strikes
OUT! Soft dismissal for Shah! He is distraught and is staring down the pitch. Imad Wasim has outfoxed the batsman here. He darted a few arm balls before bowling a delivery that straightens a bit from middle and off. Rahmat tries to flick thinking it’s coming into him but it doesn’t and takes the leading half of his blade. The ball lobs up to short cover where Babar Azam takes the simplest of catches. A good little knock comes to an end
Fifty up for Afghanistan
That’s fifty for Afghanistan in the 11th over. Rahmat Shah is playing a good hand. He needs to carry on if Afghanistan have to put up a good total.
Amir holds one end up
Almost his second maiden of the day but for that single off the last ball. Another very good over from Amir, he is holding one end up nicely, while Shaheen has been erratic but has given the breakthroughs.
DRS saves Ikram
Huge inside edge. He knocked the cover off the ball from the edge of his bat. How on earth did the umpire give that out? Thank heavens for DRS, Ikram survives. Amir brought that one to jag back in from the length area, Ikram gets an inside edge onto his pads.
Two-in-two
OUT! Cricket, you beauty. What a leveller! 10 runs conceded off the first three balls and now two wickets in two balls. What a great fightback from the young man. Shaheen spears in a very full ball around middle and leg at 137 kph, Shahidi tries flicking but closes the face of the bat early. It pops out of the leading edge towards mid off where Imad Wasim moves across to his left to take the catch safely. Shaheen on a hat-trick now.
Shaheen has the last laugh
OUT! Yes, there was an edge, the UltraEdge confirms. Good review from Pakistan, Gulbadin has to go. Shaheen Shah Afridi has the last laugh, he was hit for two fours in the over by Gulbadin and now comes back to find outside edge. Credit to the youngster for keep pitching it up despite going for runs. Gulbadin just gets a faint nick and Sarfaraz makes no mistake.
Gulbadin joins he party
Identical boundaries from Gulbadin’s bat. Shaheen pitches it up, gives room and Gulbadin helps it over mid-off to collect two fours. What a start this is for Afghanistan.
Rahmat Shah on the charge
Brilliant from Rahmat Shah, collects two fours off Mohammed Amir. One off the front foot, through the covers and when Amir pitched it short, he rocked back and pulled it confidently over mid-wicket for another four. 8 runs from Amir’s 2nd over.
Classy from Gulbadin
FOUR! Class written all over that cover drive from Gulbadin Naib, slightly overpitched from Imad, that was enough for Gulbadin to get a stride in and drive it through the gap between mid-off and cover to collect a boundary. Not a bad over from Imad though, he had bowled five dot balls before this.
Maiden from Amir
Great start by Mohammed Amir, bowls a maiden in his first over. Not a single delivery in the hitting zone, he has been in super form in the World Cup.
Pakistan start with spin
Imad Wasim starts the proceedings for Pakistan and has given away 5 runs in the first over. Interesting choice to start with a left-arm spinner, the slowness of the pitch could be a reason.
What the captains said
Gulbadin Naib, Afghanistan captain: The wicket looks good. It’s a sunny day and weather is warm, it’ll help spinners in the second innings. Pakistan is a good side but we beat them in the warm-up game. We’ll try to give our 100% today.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistancaptain: We wanted to bat first as well but toss is not in our hands. Our bowlers are doing well, so we’ll try to restrict them and chase the target. We are focusing on this match, not focusing on the next game. Wahab is fine, he’s playing today, hence we are playing with the same team.
Playing XIs
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Gulbadin Naib(c), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil(w), Rashid Khan, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi
Team news
Afghanistan have made one change. Right-arm fast bowlers Aftab Alam, who has been sent back home due to disciplinary issues has been replaced by Hamid Hassan.
Pakistan are playing with an unchanged side.
Toss
Afghanistan win the toss and opt to bat first against Pakistan
Gulbadin Naib vs Shaeen Afridi
Shaheen Afridi completely dismantled New Zealand’s top order with a tremendous first-over in the previous match. His opening spell against the Kiwis has increased his reputation in the tournament, as the opposition teams have realised what the bowler can do in overcast conditions on a swinging surface. Skipper Gulbadin Naib’s decision to promote himself up the top has worked and Afghanistan have been able to get off to good starts in the tournament. Afridi can change the trend.
Babar Azam vs Rashid Khan
Babar Azam has been the best batsman for Pakistan in the World Cup. The batsman has scored 333 runs in 6 matches at an average of 66.60 at a strike rate of 85.17. His match-winning ton against the Kiwis further has raised his stature as a threatening opposition to deal with. But, Azam’s weakness has always been spin bowling and Rashid Khan can be a perfect bowler to set up his dismissal. Azam has faced 11 deliveries from Khan in the ODIs last year and he was dismissed once in them, scoring just 7 runs. This will be the key battle in the match.
Afghan pacers more successful than spinners
Afghan spinners were considered more of a threat to the opposition before the beginning of WC 2019. Their spinners were their strengths coming into this tournament, but the picture seems a bit opposite.
Their pacers have taken more wickets than spinners in WC 2019.
Afghan pace bowlers average is 20% better than spinners in WC 2019
Their pacers have 31% better strike rate then their spinners in WC 2019
Only difference is the bowling economy, their spinners have been economical compared to pacers in WC 2019
Babar sher
Babar Azam who became the 2nd fastest to complete 3000 runs in his ODI career has now taken the responsibility for leading the Pakistan batting on his shoulders.
He scored a century in last match and took Pakistan over the line.
Babar has best batting average for Pakistan in WC 2019.
He has scored back to back 50+ scores in last 2 matches that he has played.
He has decent strike rate of 85.16 in WC 19.
Head to Head
Here’s the overall head to head of Pakistan vs Afghanistan
Venue insights
Highest team total: 351/9 by England against Pakistan in 2019
Lowest team total: 93 by England vs Australia in 1975
Highest individual score: 152 by Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) vs England in 2006
Best bowling figures: 7/36 by Waqar Younis (PAK) vs England in 2001
Biggest partnership: 286 between Upul Tharanga and S Jayasuriya for the 1st wicket against
England in 2006
In the news
Aftab Alam: The Afghanistan speedster has been sent back home due to disciplinary issues and has been replaced by Sayed Ahmad Shirzad
Political touch
It is a complicated relationship. Many Afghanistan players learned the game growing up as refugees in Pakistan but lots of Afghans also accuse their powerful neighbour of supporting Taliban militants.
With years of distrust and blame between the two countries, a high-stakes victory over Pakistan in the sport it loves best on Saturday would taste especially sweet to Afghans.
Player battles
Babar Azam vs Rashid Khan
Fakhar Zaman vs Mujeeb ur Rahman
Haris Sohail vs Mohammad Nabi
Gulbadin Naib vs Shaeen Afridi
Asghar Afghan vs Mohammad AmirWho said what
Haris Sohail, Pakistan batsman: We’ve kept it very simple. We’re going from match to match. They have quality spinners and we’ve seen a lot of videos and we’ve worked from them. And hopefully we’ll see a good match.
Gulbadin Naib, Afghanistan captain: Pakistan are a strong team and played spin very well in their last two games. But Rashid is a different spinner, he’s very different to other leg-spinners. It’s very difficult to pick him.
Pitch conditions
The pitch is expected to be slow, but recent games here have had fast bowlers achieve success, which should play into Pakistan’s hands. The leggies from both sides – Shadab Khan and Rashid Khan – should enjoy bowling here.
How’s the weather?
First thing, no rain on the cards. In fact, it is slated to be the hottest of the year with chances of temperatures even touching 30 degrees. One thing is for certain, that both Pakistan and Afghanistan won’t mind the soaring temperatures for a change.
What the points table says
Right Varun, no one is underestimating Afghanistan but even you would admit that Pakistan are the stronger side. Speaking of that, let’s take a look at the points table scenario. Pakistan have a huge opportunity to enter the top four for the first time in the tournament. If they beat Afghanistan, they will have 9 points and jump over England and Bangladesh, big incentive for the Men in Green.
Don’t take the Afghans lightly
Hello everyone, Varun this side. Samar is making the mistake of taking the Afghans too lightly, I hope Pakistan and all the viewers won’t think the same way. Remember how they almost beat India a few days ago? Afghanistan have enough fire power to unsettle the Pakistan batting line-up and even spoil their party.
Hello and welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to the live coverage of the Pakistan vs Afghanistan World cup encounter at Headingley, Leeds.I’m Samar and with me is Varun. We’ll bring you all the updates from what looks like another important fixture in the World Cup but Pakistan should have it easy, in fact they should eye improving their run rate.