Afghanistan vs Pakistan, पहला एकदिवसीय, Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, 22 August 2023 - कमेंट्री

FOUR! Nicely played. Mujeeb Ur Rahman opens his account. It is very full, on off. Mujeeb Ur Rahman stands tall and smashes this downtown for a cracking boundary.

OUT! CAUGHT! Haris Rauf picks up his fi-fer and gets an end to this Afghanistan innings. It is a short ball, on off. Mujeeb Ur Rahman tries to heave it across the line but does not time it well. The ball catches the outside edge and flies towards mid on. Naseem Shah settles under it and takes an easy catch.

On off, blocked.

Goes full, on off. Rahman defends it on his front foot.

A googly around off. Rahman gets it off the inner half.

Abdul Rahman tries to flick this full ball into mid-wicket but it goes into covers off the leading edge.

OUT! CAUGHT! Shadab Khan strikes in his very first over. Afghanistan lose their eighth wicket inside 20 overs. A day to forget with the bat for them. It is tossed up, full and on off. Abdul Rahman gets low and goes for the slog sweep. The ball catches the top-edge and goes high in the air. It goes straight up and Fakhar Zaman takes a solid catch at mid-wicket.

Outside off, left alone.

A length ball, on the pads. Rahman tucks it into mid-wicket.

Two dots in a row start the 6th over! It is fuller, in the channel. Rahman catches the outside edge as he tries to defend it out, as it is played with soft hands, the ball does not carry.

Around off, blocked.

Back of a length, on off. Rahman goes for the pull shot. It flies off the top-edge, but does not carry to the man at fine leg.

Back of a length, outside off. Rahman taps it to point for one.

An appeal for caught behind but turned down! It is a length ball, that is drifted in and holds its line after hitting the deck. Mujeeb Ur Rahman tries to slap it through the line but misses. The ball goes past the outside edge. Mohammad Rizwan thinks that he has nicked it and convinces the skipper to take the review, but the UltraEdge confirms that no bat is involved.

Slower one, on off. Azmatullah Omarzai pushes it through extra covers for one.

Flighted and full, on leg. Rahman blocks it from inside the crease.

A full toss, on off. Rahman pushes it to long off for a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai gets forward and defends this full ball back to the bowler.

Another dot now as this is just driven into covers.

FOUR! Spoils a good over for Usama Mir. It is pitched up, on off. Omarzai slaps it down the park. It is hit straight as an arrow and the fielders have no chance to get a hold of this one.

Short, outside off. It is cut to deep point for a single.

An inswinging full-length delivery, on off. Nabi blocks it out from inside the crease.

OUT! CAUGHT! Haris Rauf picks up his third wicket and Afghanistan are in trouble here. It is a good-length ball, outside off. Nabi tries to hit it on the up, but does not time his shot to perfection. The ball pops up into covers. Agha Salman there takes a sharp catch. Rashid Khan now join Azmatullah Omarzai at the crease here.

Swing and a miss! Back of a length, in the channel. It jags away. Khan tries to hit it through the line but misses.

OUT! TIMBER! Haris Rauf is on fire. He is elated with this wicket and rightly so. It is a peach of a delivery. Rashid Khan walks back on a 2-ball duck. It is pitched up, on off. The ball hits the deck and jags away just a bit. Rashid Khan tries to defend it through the line but gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball goes on to crash into the off pole. The bails come off and Pakistan can certainly sniff a win here.

On a length, outside off. Rahman tries to go after it but gets beaten. Two wickets and just a run from this over. Afghanistan are way, way behind in this run chase now.

A full toss, outside off. Nabi slashes it to sweeper cover for a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai prods and defends this full ball watchfully.

Flighted and full, on off. Azmatullah Omarzai drives it through covers for a single.

Another single now as Nabi pushes this full ball down to long off.

FOUR! Azmatullah Omarzai picks up his second boundary in no time. Short ball, on middle and leg. Azmatullah Omarzai pulls it behind square on the leg side for a boundary. 

Azmatullah Omarzai knocks this full ball down to long off for a single.

Haris Rauf goes full, slides it down leg. Gurbaz steps out of the crease, creates the angle and flicks it to deep square leg for two runs.

A sharp bumper, around off. Gurbaz sways away from the line of the delivery.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Haris Rauf with a ripper. It is a length ball, around off. The ball hits the deck and jags away just a bit to get a faint edge here as Rahmanullah Gurbaz tries to defend it out on his front foot. Mohammad Rizwan gathers the ball safely and makes a loud appeal, the team-mates join in as well. The umpire thinks about it for a while before raising his finger here. Azmatullah Omarzai is the new batter in.

Good length, outside off. Omarzai swings blindly and misses it completely.

Azmatullah Omarzai tries to defend this length ball from inside the crease. The ball goes to the right of the man at second slip and he dives to that side to make a stop.

FOUR! Azmatullah Omarzai gets off the mark with a boundary. It is overpitched, wide of off. Azmatullah Omarzai leans in and creams it through covers for a boundary.

Nabi gets forward and pushes this full ball to mid off. They cross for one. There is still a long way to go for Afghanistan.

It is flighted, lands on leg and turns away sharply. Gurbaz blocks it from inside the crease.

Pitched up, on off. Gurbaz knocks it down to long off for one.

Floats it up, on middle, turns a bit. Nabi tucks it to square leg for a single.

Slower through the air, on off. Gurbaz works it in front of long off for a single.

Quicker this time, short, on off. Nabi blocks it from inside the crease.

Back of a length, on fifth stump. Rahmanullah Gurbaz lets it be.

Brilliant from Imam-ul-Haq. He saves a single here. It is short, wide outside off. Gurbaz hangs back and cuts it through the gap at covers. It comes off the cue-end. Imam-ul-Haq gives it a chase and pulls it back in time. The batters take three runs.

A single this time as Nabi pushes this down the park.

Overpitched, on off. Gurbaz defends it out to safety.

Good length, on the body. Gurbaz flicks it into mid-wicket. They take two runs.

This is full, outside off, shapes away a bit. Gurbaz tries to defend it out but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Naseem Shah serves it on a length, outside off. The ball stays low. Nabi looks to defend it but does so way inside the line of the delivery.

Goes full this time, closer to the off stump. Nabi blocks it on his front foot.

Back of a length, outside off. It climbs off the deck. Mohammad Nabi sways away from the line this time.

Shorter, outside off that jags back in. Nabi tries to hook it away but misses. Naseem Shah is getting the ball to fly here.

Good timing! It is pitched up, wide of off. Nabi leans in and creams it through covers for two runs.

A length ball, on off stump. Nabi gets it to mid on. Just two runs off the over then.

A length ball, close to off. Gurbaz defends on the front foot to cover.

Anoher dot! Outside off. Gurbaz happily leaves it alone.

A length ball, around the fourth stumps. Gurbaz blocks.

Four dots now! Short of a length, outside off, good pace from Rauf as Gurbaz pulls his bat out quickly.

Five dots from Rauf! This is full and outside off. Gurbaz lets it go. Can he produce another maiden?

Yes, he can! Another maiden! Rauf keeps it full and outside off. Gurbaz has a feel this time, goes for the drive but misses it. 

A length ball, outside off, jags away after angling in. Gurbaz looks to defend but is beaten on the outside edge.

JUST SHORT! A length ball, outside off, again angled in before it nips away. Gurbaz defends with soft hands but gets an outside edge in front of the man at second slip.

Outside off, this is guided through covers for a couple of runs. Runs after 8 deliveries. 

Gurbaz is given out LBW but he reviews it. It was angled on the pads. No bat there clearly. Ball Tracking shows it bounces over the stumps. Excellent review from Gurbaz! A length ball, angling on middle and leg. Gurbaz strides forward to defend but gets beaten on the inside edge. The review saves Gurbaz though.

On a length and on middle, this is blocked.

SHARP SINGLE! Good running. Full and on middle. Gurbaz drops it in front of mid on and hurls across to keep the strike.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Haris Rauf strikes on his very first ball. Another one goes for Afghanistan. Short of a length and slanting on middle from around the wicket. Alikhil is squared up as he looks to play. It takes the inside edge and goes to the right of the keeper, Mohammad Rizwan who dives and completes it safely.

On a length and outside off, swings in. Nabi shoulders arms to it. 147 clicks from Rauf.

This is full and on off, Nabi drives it to mid on.

Length ball on off, jags back in. Nabi safely fends it away.

Full and outside off, Nabi drives it to mid off this time.

A maiden to start the spell! Pakistan are off to a brilliant start! A length ball, outside off. Nabi has a poke but misses.

FIVE RUNS! That goes over everyone. Drops it short and on middle, Gurbaz sits. The keeper leaps but to no avail. It races behind to the fence.

A bumper again. This time the keeper takes it.

On middle, this is driven to cover.

On a length and on middle, this is clipped to mid-wicket.

Wide! Length ball, straight down leg. Gurbaz misses his clip and a wide is called.

Hard-length ball on middle, this is blocked out.

A length ball, outside off. Gurbaz was late to pull his bat out and toe ends his shot to backward point. Superb from Afridi till now.

A juicy full toss, outside off. this is driven through point, beats the fielder and gets two runs.

On a length and outside off. Alikhil miscues his punch back to the slip cordon.

Leg bye! Length and on leg, Alikhil misses his clip. It rolls off the pads to cover for one.

Length ball on off. Gurbaz splices his shot to third man for a single.

A good length ball on off. Alikhil defends.

Sliding down leg. Alikhil misses his pull and it goes off the pads to the keeper.

This is on top of off. Alikhil stays back and defends it out.

Short in length and on middle, Gurbaz hops and blocks.

Full and on off, this is pushed to cover.

Test match delivery! Angles it across a length ball, around the fifth stump line. Gurbaz looks to defend but is beaten there.

Goes for his favorite yorker delivery on middle, Gurbaz blocks.

A bouncer, around leg, Gurbaz evades it well.

On middle, this is nudged to mid-wicket. 

On a length and outside off, Gurbaz dabs it to third man for a single.

This is very full and outside off. Shahidi punches it square on the off side.

OUT! GONE! Shadab Khan has pulled off an absolute screamer! Wow! Just wow! Take a bow, Khan! Naseem Shah bowls it short and well-directed on the middle. Shahidi who could have evaded it goes for the pull and mistimes it to mid-wicket. Shadab Khan there leaps, gets his right hand up and he almost spills it out but Khan somehow manages to grab it on his second-attempt. Even holds it while bumping on the ground. Afghanistan in tatters already.

FOUR! IN THE GAP! A bit of pressure released! Pitched, outside off, Alikhil drives it through covers and it races to the fence.

HUGE CHANCE! How has Fakhar Zaman not hit the stumps here? Length and on off. Alikhil taps it in front of covers and wants a brave single. He runs and is along with Gurbaz at the other end. Gurbaz pulls out very late and Alikhil makes his way back. However, the fielder underarms but fails to hit the target. The run out is still taken upstairs. Mohammad Rizwan meanwhile flies and tries to palm the ball on the stumps. The replay shows it was very close but Mohammad Rizwan didn't gather the ball lately. Drama all over. 

On a length and on off, defended.

Sharp away swing. This one lands outside off and jags away. Gurbaz has nothing to do with it.

Short of a length and on middle, Gurbaz hops and blocks it out.

Leg bye! Shaheen Afridi goes full and on the pads. Gurbaz misses his clip and it rolls away for a leg bye.

OUT! TAKEN! A nothing shot really from Ibrahim Zadran and he has to go. Shaheen Afridi bowls it short and on leg. Zadran tries to pull but is hurried and gets a thick top edge which just lobs over and lands in the hands of Salman at square leg. A sitter for him. Afridi gets the first breakthrough.

OUT! GONE! Another soft dismissal. What have you done Shah? He will be kicking himself right now. A low full toss on middle and leg. Shah flicks but straight in the hands of Agha Salman at mid-wicket who takes it to his right. Afghanistan putting themselves under pressure here. Shaheen Afridi is on a Hat-trick.

DOT BALL! On a length and around off. Hashmatullah Shahidi taps it to point.

 A length ball, outside off, the batter leaves it alone.

 On middle, this is hit to  fine leg for a single. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is off the mark.

Good length, outside off, swinging away. Zadran tries to go after it but misses.

Length, around off, pushed out.

Short in length and outside off. Ibrahim Zadran slashes his blade and misses.

On a length and on middle, Zadran flicks it to mid-wicket.

 This is full and on middle, swinging in, it is flicked to mid-wicket.

 Full again, around off and nips back in. this is hit to square leg.

 On a length and on off, this is defended out.

 A yorker, right on the middle, the batter blocks it out.

 Goes full and on middle, shapes in, it is flicked behind square leg for a single.

 On a length and on middle, the batter again makes a solid block.