Wasim denies Afghanistan

LEEDS, England, June 29, (AP): Imad Wasim hit a boundary to finish off a three-wicket win with two balls to spare against Afghanistan and lifted Pakistan above England into fourth spot on the Cricket World Cup standings on Saturday.

Wasim finished unbeaten on 49 with Pakistan on 230-7 and shared important lower-order partnerships of 50 with Shadab Khan (11) and 24 with No. 9 Wahab Riaz, who was unbeaten on 15.

With Pakistan needing 16 runs off 11 balls, Wahab hit a six off Rashid Khan and then ran a risky two – despite the two unnecessary run outs of Shadab and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed that compounded pressure earlier in the innings.

A small group of fans spilled onto the field at Headingley to congratulate the players, waving flags and causing all kinds of issues for the security.

Teenage paceman Shaheen Afridi took 4-47 earlier as Pakistan restricted Afghanistan to 227-9 in an important start to the game. It was a record eighth consecutive loss for Afghanistan and a second narrow defeat to a regional rival – it followed an 11-run loss to two-time champion India.

Pakistan, after being trounced in its opening game, has beaten South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan to move into the semifinal positions on nine points from eight games, one ahead of England. The host team plays India on Sunday.

It was a seesawing game at Leeds.

After losing Fakhar Zaman on the second ball of the run chase, trapped lbw by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Pakistan was coasting with Imam-ul-Haq (36) and Babar Azam (45) sharing a 72-run second-wicket stand until Mohammad Nabi struck twice to remove both established batters in consecutive overs.

Imam was stumped on the last ball of the 16th over when he charged Nabi, missing a quicker, wider ball and was easily out of his ground when wicketkeeper Ikram Ali Khil whipped off the bails. Babar attempted to sweep a fuller delivery at the start of the 18th over and was bowled.

Still, they were in a comfortable position at 103-3 halfway through the overs until wickets started dropping and the run-rate escalating.

Haris Sohail had a reprieve at the end of the 28th over when Afghanistan appealed loudly for a leg-side caught behind, but umpire Nigel Llong ruled not out and neither team had any referrals left. TV replays showed there was a fine edge.

But just when all the momentum seemed to be going entirely Pakistan’s way, 18-year-old Mujeeb started a new spell in the 30th over and immediately had Mohammad Hafeez (19) caught at point.

Sohail labored to 27 from 57 deliveries before being trapped lbw by Rashid Khan, making it 142-5 in the 35th, and captain Sarfaraz’s inexplicable run out for 18 in the 39th made it 156-6. That left Pakistan needing 72 off 11 overs with only four wickets in hand.

Scoreboard

LONDON, June 29, (RTRS): Scoreboard at close of play of match 36 between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday.

AFGHANISTAN

R. Shah c Azam b Wasim    35

G. Naib c Ahmed b Afridi  15

H. Shahidi c Wasim b Afridi 0

I. Ali Khil c Hafeez b Wasim 24

A. Afghan b S. Khan        42

M. Nabi c Amir b Riaz       16

N. Zadran b Afridi           42

S. Shinwari not out         19

R. Khan c Zaman b Afridi   8

H. Hassan b Riaz             1

M. Ur Rahman not out     7

Extras: (8lb, 10w)            18

Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs)    227

Fall of Wickets: 1-27 (G. Naib), 2-27 (Shahidi), 3-57 (Zurmatai), 4-121 (Afghan), 5-125 (Khil), 6-167 (Nabi), 7-202 (Zadran), 8-210 (R. Khan), 9-219 (Hassan)

Bowling: Wasim 10-0-48-2, Amir 10-1-41-0, Afridi 10-0-47-4, Hafeez 2-0-10-0, Riaz 8-0-29-2, S. Khan 10-0-44-1

PAKISTAN

F. Zaman lbw M. Ur Rahman              0

I. ul-Haq st Ali Khil b Nabi  36

B. Azam b Nabi              45

M. Hafeez c Shahidi b M. Ur Rahman    19

H. Sohail lbw R. Khan       27

S. Ahmed run out (N. Zadran)            18

I. Wasim not out            49

S. Khan run out (G. Naib) 11

W. Riaz not out              15

Extras: (1b, 4lb, 5w)         10

Total: (7 wkts, 49.4 overs)  230

Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Zaman), 2-72 (ul-Haq), 3-81 (Azam), 4-121 (Hafeez), 5-142 (Sohail), 6-156 (Ahmed), 7-206 (S. Khan)

Did not bat: Amir, Afridi

Bowling: M. Ur Rahman 10-1-34-2, H. Hassan 2-0-13-0, G. Naib 9.4-0-73-0, M. Nabi 10-0-23-2, R. Khan 10-0-50-1, S. Shinwari 8-0-32-0

Match result: Pakistan win by 3 wickets

Umpires: Nigel Llong, Paul Wilson

TV Umpire: Christopher Gaffaney

Match Referee: Brian Broad