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On the 20th of March, 2023, Afghanistan and Pakistan faced off in the first T20 of their bilateral series. The match was held at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium in Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul.
24 MARCH 2023
TIME: 12:00 AM ET
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first. The opening pair of Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai got off to a flying start, scoring 51 runs in just 4 overs before Shahzad was dismissed by Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi. However, Zazai continued to dominate the Pakistani bowlers and smashed a brilliant century off just 48 balls. He was well supported by Najibullah Zadran, who scored a quickfire 40 off 23 balls. Afghanistan ended their innings with a mammoth total of 219 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Pakistan’s chase got off to a terrible start as they lost their opening batsman Fakhar Zaman in the very first over. However, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam steadied the ship with a 92-run partnership. Rizwan played a blistering knock of 80 off 45 balls, while Azam scored 44 off 32 balls. However, once Azam was dismissed, Pakistan’s middle order collapsed, and they were bowled out for 179 in the 18th over. For Afghanistan, left-arm spinner Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 4 wickets for just 27 runs.
The match was a complete domination by Afghanistan, who outplayed Pakistan in all departments of the game. Zazai’s century was the highlight of the match, and he was awarded the player of the match award for his scintillating knock.
Afghanistan’s victory in the first T20 will give them a lot of confidence going into the remaining matches of the series. Their batting looks in great form, and their bowlers, led by Rashid Khan, are capable of picking up wickets at regular intervals. Afghanistan’s rise as a cricketing nation has been remarkable in recent years, and this victory against a strong Pakistani side is a testament to their progress.
For Pakistan, this defeat will be a wake-up call. They have a lot of talent in their side, but their middle order needs to perform better if they are to compete with Afghanistan in the remaining matches of the series. The absence of key players such as Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali due to injury has also affected Pakistan’s balance, and they will hope to have them back for the rest of the series.
The Afghanistan vs Pakistan rivalry has always been an intense one, both on and off the field. The two nations have a shared history, culture, and language, and cricket has often been a way for them to express their emotions and pride. The fact that Afghanistan won the match in front of their home crowd made the victory even sweeter for them.
The series between Afghanistan and Pakistan is an important one for both teams. Afghanistan is looking to establish themselves as a cricketing powerhouse, while Pakistan is looking to bounce back after a disappointing tour of South Africa. The remaining matches of the series promise to be just as exciting as the first T20, and fans of both teams will be eagerly anticipating the action.
In conclusion, Afghanistan’s victory in the first T20 against Pakistan was a comprehensive one. Zazai’s century and Rashid Khan’s bowling were the standout performances of the match. Afghanistan will be full of confidence going into the remaining matches of the series, while Pakistan will be looking to bounce back. The Afghanistan vs Pakistan rivalry is one of the most intense in cricket, and the series promises to be a thrilling one for fans of both teams.
