Image Credit- AP
8-0 or 7-1? No, that is not the topic at hand.
Afghanistan had not defeated Pakistan in an ODI in seven tries before into
their fifth game of the 2023 World Cup. They had at least twice come very close
to defeating them, but they were forced to endure heartbreak after heartbreak.
But Afghanistan was able to finally end the hoodoo on what is likely the
grandest stage of them all. They accomplished this feat in Chennai by eight
wickets, chasing down 283 with six balls remaining, and setting a new record
for successful ODI chases in the process. Finally, a victory over Pakistan—and
a 1-7 one at that. In a World Cup game, it was also the highest-scoring chase
against Pakistan.
Does that qualify as an upset? Maybe not after what
Afghanistan did to England or after the methodical way they moved up to sixth
place on the standings by pursuing the target on Monday.
Babar Azam had no qualms about batting first on a
surface devoid of a single blade of grass. Pakistan posted a strong 282 for 7
thanks to the fifty-plus scores of Babar and Abdullah Shafique, as well as
standout cameos from Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan.
Afghanistan responded by turning on like soldiers on a
mission. With both batsman getting fifties, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim
Zadran produced a 130-run partnership for the first wicket. When they left, it
was Rahmat Shah’s and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s turn to guide the chase and close
it in 49 overs.
Gurbaz’s pick of Shaheen Shah Afridi to the fine-leg
boundary and Ibrahim’s drive of Afridi over the covers three balls later set
the tone for Afghanistan’s chase perfectly. As Afghanistan quickly reached 60
after nine, Gurbaz targeted Haris Rauf and smashed him for four fours in his
first over while Ibrahim brutalised Hasan Ali.
Afghanistan scored its first 100 runs in just 15.3
overs. Ibrahim and Gurbaz had both reached their fifties by that point. Only in
the 22nd over, when Afridi induced a top edge off Gurbaz’s blade, was Pakistan
able to claim its first wicket.
But there are no panic stations. Rahmat entered the
room and started working right away in his customary diligent manner. When a
line of dot balls appeared, Ibrahim or Rahmat released the hold with a
boundary. Before Ibrahim, who was experiencing cramping, pushed Hasan behind
for 87, they added 60 off 74 runs for the second wicket.
Shahidi and Rahmat soon put an end to any fears of a
collapse or even a few of fast wickets. For the third wicket, they scored 96
unbroken runs, never letting Pakistan have a chance. The most startling aspect
of the chase was perhaps how calmly they went about their tasks.
While Rahmat with five fours and a six remained
unbeaten on 77, Shahidi scored a 45-ball 48*. It was the captain who hit the
winning runs, a pull/flick off Afridi to spark emotional scenes in the dugout.