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The third and final T20 match of the series between Afghanistan and Pakistan was played on 23rd March 2023 in Lahore, Pakistan. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams were looking to end on a high and claim bragging rights over their rivals.
27 MARCH 2023
TIME: 12:00 AM ET
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Their opening pair of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman got off to a solid start, putting on 53 runs for the first wicket before Zaman was dismissed for 29 runs. Babar continued to anchor the innings, scoring a well-compiled 75 runs off 52 balls before being dismissed in the 17th over.
Pakistan’s middle order struggled to get going, with wickets falling at regular intervals. It was left to all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez to provide some late impetus to the innings, scoring 27 runs off just 12 balls to take Pakistan’s total to 160-7 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, Afghanistan got off to a poor start, losing both openers for just 16 runs on the board. Skipper Mohammad Nabi and wicket-keeper batsman Afsar Zazai tried to rebuild the innings, putting on a 40-run partnership for the third wicket. However, once Nabi was dismissed for 21 runs, Afghanistan’s innings fell apart.
The Pakistani bowlers, led by paceman Hasan Ali, put in a clinical performance, picking up wickets at regular intervals to restrict Afghanistan to a total of just 116 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Hasan finished with figures of 3-15 in his 4 overs, while leg-spinner Shadab Khan and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz picked up 2 wickets each.
It was a comprehensive win for Pakistan, who showcased their all-round strength and depth in this match. Babar Azam’s innings was the highlight of the match, as he once again showed his class and quality at the top of the order. The Pakistan skipper has been in excellent form in recent times and will be a key player for them in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The Pakistani bowlers also deserve credit for their disciplined and accurate bowling. Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers, but Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz also played crucial roles in keeping the pressure on the Afghanistan batsmen.
For Afghanistan, it was a disappointing end to the series after their strong performance in the second T20. Their batting was not up to the mark in this match, with too many batsmen getting out cheaply and failing to build partnerships.
Overall, the series was a closely fought contest between two strong T20 sides. Pakistan will be pleased with their performance, especially after losing the first match, and will be looking to carry this momentum into the T20 World Cup. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will need to work on their batting and look to iron out their inconsistencies if they are to be competitive in the upcoming tournament.
In conclusion, the third T20 match between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a fitting end to a thrilling series. Pakistan emerged as worthy winners and will take confidence from their performance heading into the T20 World Cup. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly and address their weaknesses before the tournament begins.
