As it happened | PAKvAFG: Pakistan defeat Afghanistan by 3 wickets

It's done... What a match it was...

Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 3 wickets in a last over thriller. 

With this win, Pakistan have avoided a huge shock to keep their chances of reaching the last four of the Cricket World Cup alive with a nervy three-wicket win over Afghanistan. 

Afghanistan looked on course for their first victory of the tournament as Pakistan fell to 156-6 chasing a total of 228, but 49 not out from Imad Wasim saw the 1992 champions over the line with two balls to spare.

49th Over

Rashid Khan's last over. 

10 runs from this one. 

Now, Pakistan need 6 runs to win from six balls. 

48th Over

Mujeeb Ur Rahman's last over. 2 runs from this over. 

Brilliant spell by him. 

His bowling figure in this game ends with 10-1-34-2. 

47th Over

A comeback over by Rashid after Naib's expensive one. 

Rashid gave 10 runs but took one wicket also. 

46.4 | Wicket!

Shadab Khan run out. 

He scored 11 runs off 17 balls. 

Brilliant throw by Gulbadin Naib and Shadab has to go back. 

Next batsman is Wahab Riaz. 

46th Over

An expensive over by AFG's skipper. 

18 runs from this over and the game has become even more interesting. 

Naib's 9th over. 

Pakistan have crossed 200-run mark. 

45th Over

Samiullah Shinwari is back into attack. 

2 runs from the over. 

44th Over

Rashid's 8th over. 

6 runs from this over. 

Afghanistan's intent is incredible...

43rd Over

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back into attack. 

It's hit 9th over. 

And 5 runs from this over. 

This fella has been magnificent in this match. 

42nd Over

Gulbadin Naib is back into attack. 

8 runs from this over. 

41st Over

Samiullah Shinwari is back into attack. 

1 double and 2 singles from this over. 

40th Over

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back into the attack. 

Just 1 run from this over. 

The score is 157/6. 

39th Over

Rashid Khan's 7th over. 

2 runs from this over and Sarfaraz's wicket. 

38.6 | Wicket!

Sarfaraz Ahmed run out. 

He scored 18 runs off 22 balls. 

Next batsman is Shadab Khan. 

38th Over

Gulbadin Naib is back into the attack. 

8 runs from this over. 

37th Over

Rashid Khan's 6th over of the match. 

Just two extra runs in this over. 

Pakistan need to build partnership here to reduce the pressure, while Afghanistan need wicket to get a grip on this match. 

36th Over

Nabi's last over of the match. 

His bowling figure for this match is 10-0-23-2. 

35th Over

Brilliant over by Rashid. 

He took one crucial wicket and gave 2 runs. 

34.4 | Wicket!

A massive wicket for Afghanistan... Haris Sohail departed after scoring 27 runs. 

Rashid Khan to Haris Sohail, lbw out. 

Next batsman is Imad Wasim. 

34th Over

Nabi's 9th over. 

A good over for Afghanistan here...

5 singles from this over. 

33rd Over

Samiullah Shinwari continues from the other end. 

3 runs from this over. 

32nd Over

Mohammad Nabi is back into attack. 

It's his 8th over. 

Afghanistan are looking for wickets. 

3 runs from this one. 

31st Over

Shinwari's 5th over. 

5 runs from this over. 

29.1 | Wicket!

Mohammad Hafeez departed after scoring 19 runs off 25 balls. 

Afghanistan are keeping themselves in the game. 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman send back Hafeez. 

Mejeeb to Hafeez, caught out by Shahidi. 

Next batsman is Sarfaraz Ahmed. 

After 25 overs

Pakistan are 103/3. 

They have crossed the 100-run mark. 

The current run rate is 4.29 and required is 4.85. 

After 20 overs

The score is 87/3.

Nabi's strikes has provided a new twist in the game. 

As of now, the contest is evenly poised. 

17.2 | Wicket!

Nabi struck again...

Babar Azam out, Mohammad Nabi got the breakthrough again. 

Nabi to Babar, bowled. 

Babar scored 45 runs and next batsman is Haris Sohail. 

15.6 | Wicket!

Imam out...Nabi to Imam, stumped. 

Imam scored 36 runs. 

Next batsman is Mohammad Hafeez. 

After 15 overs

The score is 71/1. 

After 10 overs

Pakistan are 49/1. 

The jolt of one wicket has not damaged Pakistan's run chase. 

Babar Azam and Imam have soaked in the pressure. 

Both the batsmen have the potential to chase down the target. 

After 5 overs

Pakistan's score is 30/1. 

AFG need more wickets to build pressure. 

02 | Wicket!

An ideal start Afghanistan needed here in this match while defending their total. 

Fakhar Zaman depart on duck. 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Fakhar, lbw. 

Next batsman is Babar Azam. 

Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman start the run chase. 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman launched the bowling attack. 

Innings break:

Afghanistan post 227 against Pakistan.

Pakistan Shaheen Afridi claimed four wickets to restrict minnows Afghanistan to a modest 227 for nine.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Afghanistan stumbled early on as they lost captain Gulbadin Naib and Hashmatullah Shahidi in back-to-back deliveries to Afridi, who produced a blistering opening spell with the new ball.

Former skipper 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, playing only his 18th ODI at the age of 19, returned to remove Zadran and Rashid Khan to finish as pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 4-47.

The game was marred by a clash between the supporters of both teams in the stands at Headingley, with ESPNcricinfo reporting at least two fans have been evicted from the match.

Back-to-back wins against South Africa and New Zealand have handed 1992 champions Pakistan a chance of making the semi-finals but they must beat Afghanistan to keep their qualification hopes alive.

48.2 | Wicket!

Hamid Hassan out. 

Wahab Riaz to Hamid, bowled. 

He walked back after scoring 1 run. 

Next batsman is Mujeeb Ur Rahman. 

46.4 | Wicket!

Rashid Khan out, caught out by Fakhar Zaman. 

Shaheen Afridi struck again...

Rashid scored 8 runs. 

Next batsman is Hamid Hassan. 

After 45 overs

The score is 203/7.

Afghanistan have crossed 200-run mark. 

This young pacer is pick of the day... he has been brilliant so far in the match...

44.4 | Wicket!

Najibullah Zadran out after scoring 42 runs. 

Shaheen to Najibullah, bowled. 

Next batsman is Rashid Khan. 

After 40 overs

The score is 184/6. 

The current run rate is 4.48. 

Projected score from here is 224. 

36.4 | Wicket!

Wahab Riaz got the breakthrough and took Nabi's wicket. 

Riaz to Mohammad Nabi. 

Nabi scored 16 runs. 

Next batsman is Samiullah Shinwari. 

After 35 overs

Afghanistan are 159/5 after 35 overs. 

After 30 overs

The score is 134/5. 

26.6 | Wicket!

Ikram Ali Khil out after scoring 24 runs off 66 balls. 

Imad Wasim to Ikram Ali, caught out by Mohammad Hafeez. 

Next batsman is Najibullah Zadran. 

25.2 | Wicket!

Asghar Afghan out after playing a brilliant innings. 

Shadab Khan to Asghar, bowled. 

He scored 42 runs. 

Next batsman is Mohammad Nabi. 

After 25 overs

The score is 120/3. 

Pakistan are desperate to take a wicket here to break this momentum. 

After 20 overs

The score is 104/3. 

Afghanistan have crossed the 100-run mark. 

23 runs in the previous five overs. 

The partnership is thriving at the moment. 

After 15 overs

In the last 5 overs, Afghanistan scored 31 runs and lost 1 wicket. 

Asghar Afghan and Ikram are off to a 20-run partnership. 

11.6 | Wicket!

Imad Wasim takes the wicket of Rahmat Shah.

Shah, the set batsman out on 35 runs.

After 10 overs

The score is 46/2.

In the previous five overs, Afghanistan scored 16 runs without losing any wicket.

They need to build partnership here to push the run rate reduce the pressure. 

After 5 overs

The score is 31/2. 

Pakistan is totally dominating the game at the moment as they have taken two crucial wickets. 

4.5 | Wicket!

Shaheen Afridi struck again! Hashmatullah Shahidi departed on a golden duck. 

Shaheen Afridi to Shahidi, caught out by Imad Wasim. 

Next batsman is Ikram Ali Khil. 

4.4 | Wicket!

Shaheen Afridi to Gulbadin Naib, caught behind. 

The original decision was not out but Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed reviewed it and a spike on the ultra edge meant Naid had to go. 

He scored 15 runs. 

Next batsman is Hashmatullah Shahidi. 

2.6 | Four!

First boundary of the innings from  Gulbadin Naib's bat, beautiful cover drive it was. 

Gulbadin Naib and Rahmat Shah have opened the innings and Imad Wasim launched the bowling attack. 

Toss: 

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first. 

It's a must win game for Pakistan who have fielded an unchanged side from their New Zealand game.

Afghanistan made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Hamid Hassan in place of Dawlat Zadran. 

Playing XI: 

Afghanistan: 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: 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 

Both the teams have geared up for the match. 

Conditions:

It can be a day for the spinners as the day it is expected to be a dry and sunny day with some gentle south-easterly winds. 

While in the warm-up match, Afghanistan had stunned Pakistan by three wickets is match the went to the wire. 

Head-to-head:

Both the teams have played a total of three matches and Pakistan emerging victorious in all the contests. 

While in the warm-up match, Afghanistan had stunned Pakistan by three wickets, a match that went to the wire. 

Squads:

Pakistan: 
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, Asif Ali, Shoaib Malik, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain

Afghanistan: 
Gulbadin Naib(c), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil(w), Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Hamid Hassan, Sayed Shirzad

Preview: 

Pakistan will hope to continue their resurgent run while keeping complacency at bay when they play Afghanistan. 

Staring at a possible league stage elimination after three defeats and a washout, Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback with wins over South Africa and New Zealand to keep their hopes alive.

A couple of losses for hosts England only brightened the 1992 winners' prospects of a semi-final berth. 

There were quite a few positives from the six-wicket victory over New Zealand, with Babar Azam's century and Shaheen Afridi's five-wicket haul being the most prominent ones. 

The worry now is that after beating South Africa and then the unbeaten New Zealand, a feeling of complacency may creep in, but Pakistan cannot allow that to happen.
The current team will also hope that it is able to make the similarities with the country's 1992 campaign even more striking. 
Given the way the tournament has so far panned out for the green shirts, it is impossible to ignore the parallels with Imran Khan's team, which also effected a stunning turnaround on way to winning the title. 

Pakistan's rally and England's reverses have opened up the tournament but the players will do well to not worry about other results. 

If Pakistan beat Afghanistan and Bangladesh, chances of reaching the last four could increase. 

The inclusion of Harris Sohail at the expense of the miserably out-of-form Shoaib Malik has lent both stability and flair to Pakistan's batting. 

While left-arm pacer Afridi has added firepower to their bowling that is led by Mohammad Amir. 

Afghanistan, who came close to causing the tournament's biggest upset against India, have won hearts with their spirited showings, but they would have wanted to do better. 

A win over a big cricketing nation like Pakistan would be a nice way to exit the big stage, and the likes of Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib are aware of that.

Hello! And welcome to the Match 36 of the Cricket World Cup 2019 which is between Afghanistan vs Pakistan.

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