Pakistan posted 283 against the arch-rivals Afghanistan in the World Cup 2023 encounter at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Men in Green were helped by a late blitz by veteran batter Iftikhar Ahmed and allrounder Shadab Khan to impose 282/7 in 50 overs. Both the batters scored 40 each.Iftikhar and Shadab unleash fireworks, propelling Pakistan to 282-7 after Babar and Abdullahs composed half-centuries! 💥Over to the bowlers in the second innings 🎯#PAKvAFG | #DattKePakistani pic.twitter.com/WA0KR8AmE0— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 23, 2023Afghanistan off to fiery startChasing the target of 283, Afghan openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave a superb start by adding 60 runs in a mandatory powerplay against Pakistan on Monday. The pair has completed a 100-plus-run partnership as Pakistan desperately searches for a breakthrough. Both of the openers scored their respective half-centurys in the process. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored 50* runs off 38 deliveries including 9 boundaries while Ibrahim Zadran scored 53* runs off 59 deliveries including 8 fours.4th ODI half-century for @RGurbaz_21 as both the Afghanistan openers gets their respective half-centuries. 👏Keep going Atalano! 🤩🇦🇫- 105/0 (16 Overs)#AfghanAtalan | #CWC23 | #AFGvPAK | #WarzaMaidanGata pic.twitter.com/jGkc3IuCXf— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 23, 2023Babar Azams solid half-centuryPakistans skipper Babar Azam was the top scorer of the side who scored, 74 runs off 92 deliveries including four boundaries and a maximum before getting out against Noor Ahmad..@babarazam258 falls for a brilliant 74 👏Pakistan are 209-5 after 43 overs 🏏#PAKvAFG | #DattKePakistani pic.twitter.com/b8DBzpbJPl— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 23, 2023Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first in the twenty-second match of the multinational event. The openers gave the perfect start adding 56 runs in the powerplay without losing any wickets. However, Azmatullah Omarzai struck in the first ball after the end of the batting powerplay and provided Afghanistan with the first blow as he removed Imam, who scored 17 off 22 runs. Babar Azam and Shafique then kept taking the innings forward before Noor Ahmad broke the 104-run stand between by removing Shafique was trapped LBW after scoring 58 runs off 75 deliveries.However, Noor struck again by removing wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan for just 8 runs off 10 deliveries. Afganistans off-spinner Mohammad Nabi then struck another blow and removed inform batter Saud Shakeel, who scored 25 runs off 34 deliveries. Babar Azams resistance also came to an end and was dismissed by Noor Ahmad after scoring 74 runs.Noor Ahmad was the peak of bowlers, who scalped three key wickets for Pakistan, while pacer Naveen-ul-Haq picked two wickets.Abdullah Shafique ☝️Mohammad Rizwan ☝️Babar Azam ☝️Impressive display from @Noor_Ahmad_15 on his World Cup debut! 👏#AfghanAtalan | #CWC23 | #AFGvPAK | #WarzaMaidanGata pic.twitter.com/qAmdkN7cpe— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 23, 2023Team changesEarlier, Both sides made one change each in their playing XI as Shadab Khan came in for Mohammad Nawaz. On the other hand, Afghanistan has added an extra spinner as Noor Ahmad repaces Fazalhaq Farooqi in the XI.
