Yahoo News Afghanistan topple Pakistan in warm-up game to earn World Cup giant-killing credentials
Afghanistan have been tipped as a giant-killer in this World Cup, but given the relative ease with which they beat Pakistan in this warm-up game, by three wickets with two balls to spare, they will slay more giants than one.
Afghanistan had never played a proper match in England before - just a friendly one-dayer against MCC - yet they held the upper hand and never looked like failing to chase 263 until Wahab Riaz fired some reverse-swinging yorkers.
This victory maintains the most astonishing rise cricket has ever seen, for a country which had no cricket ground or team 20 years ago.
The Afghans were more attacking when they bowled and their spinners were better than Pakistan’s. They kept on trying to take wickets - Pushto might have no word for 'containment' - and in spite of a superbly cultured 112 off 108 balls by Babar Azam, Pakistan were dismissed in the 48th over, which made all the difference come the tight finish.
Afghanistan’s batting was not simply gung-ho either. Their opening stand of 80 off 11.1 overs was, but after Hazratullah Zazai had slammed 49 off only 28 balls, his team-mates had only to bat sensibly, which most did.
Although it was a 15-a-side game, in which only 11 could bat, Pakistan were trying alright and did not need another defeat after the four by England.
Gulbardin Naib, Afghanistan’s captain, said he had expected Pakistan to score more than 300. “Today is our day, I’m pretty happy with our team. The bowlers bowled really well, that is why we defeat them, but we need to improve the batting,” he said.
The pitch, used for England’s ODI against Pakistan, offered considerable spin for Mohammad Nabi, driving his offbreaks into the worn surface, and Rashid Khan, who also bowled his wrist-spinners at pace.
