What a spectacular show! Afghanistan did what they are capable of. Hunting down a superpower like Pakistan in the World Cup match is a splendid job by Afghanistan. While chasing the target Afghanistan was in full confidence. That was their highest target chasing record and they did it like they were very much used to it. Thanks to their opening pairs who had pushed through the difficulties and achieved what they deserved.
This exceptional victory not only established Afghanistan as a formidable force in the world of cricket but also showcased their ability to break new ground in the most prestigious ODI tournament. Let’s delve into the key takeaways from this historic clash:
The Afghan team’s pursuit of 283 runs marked the first time Pakistan failed to defend a 275-plus target at the men’s ODI World Cup, despite having successfully defended such targets on 13 previous occasions. The previous highest chase against Pakistan at the World Cup was India’s 274 in 2003. This victory not only shattered Pakistan’s reputation as a formidable defending team but also created a memorable moment in Afghanistan’s cricket history.
This win was extra special for Afghanistan as they defeated Pakistan in an ODI for the first time, ending a seven-match losing streak against their arch-rivals. Furthermore, this victory highlighted Afghanistan’s growing prowess in the ODI format, as they have now triumphed over 13 of the 17 teams they have faced in ODIs. It underlines their rapid progress on the international cricketing stage.
The defeat to Afghanistan marked Pakistan’s third consecutive loss in the World Cup, following defeats to India and Australia in their previous matches. This is only the second time in ODI World Cup history that Pakistan has suffered a hat-trick of losses, with the first instance occurring in 1999 against Bangladesh, South Africa, and India. It was a tough phase for Pakistan, which highlighted the fierce competition in the tournament.
Afghanistan’s successful chase was anchored by a brilliant partnership between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, resulting in a century stand. This partnership was their fourth in 2023, making them the pair with the joint-most century stands in men’s ODIs that year, alongside Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. It’s a testament to Afghanistan’s burgeoning talent and their ability to compete at the highest level.
The match witnessed a groundbreaking moment as Afghanistan’s top three batters scored 50 or more runs during the run chase. This marked the first instance of the top three batters achieving this feat in a men’s ODI World Cup run chase. It’s a clear indication of Afghanistan’s batting prowess and their ability to handle pressure on the grandest stage.
In another remarkable statistic, Afghanistan’s top three batters have achieved 50-plus scores in the same ODI on two occasions, with the previous instance occurring against Sri Lanka in last year’s Pallekele ODI. This match also saw Afghanistan’s first-ever fifty-plus stands for the first three wickets in an ODI, reinforcing their growth as a cricketing nation.
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