1st ODI: Afghanistan all out for 59 runs from the claws of Harif Rauf, Pakistan broke 37 years old record with Mahajeet

 

Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by a huge margin of 142 runs in the first One Day International played at Habanota on Tuesday (August 22). With this, Pakistan has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In response to Pakistan's 201 runs, Afghanistan's team was all out for 59 runs in 19.2 overs. This is the lowest score made by any team against Pakistan in this format. Earlier in 1986, the New Zealand team was stacked on 64 runs against Pakistan.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan got off to a bad start and got the first blow in the form of Fakhar Zaman in the very first over. After this Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman were dismissed cheaply. After this, Imam shared a 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed. Imam scored 61 runs in 94 balls with the help of 2 sixes. Ahmed scored 30 runs and Shadab Khan scored 39 runs, due to which Pakistan could reach 201 runs in 47.1 overs.

For Afghanistan, Mujeeb ur Rehman got 3 wickets, Mohammad Nabi-Rashid Khan got 2-2 wickets, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rehmat Shah got 1-1 wickets.

Apart from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (18) and Azmatullah Umarzai (16), no player could reach the figure of Dahai for the Afghanistan team chasing the target. 5 players of the team could not even open their account. 

Haris Rauf was the best bowler for Pakistan, taking 5 wickets for 18 runs. For which he was adjudged Player of the Match. Apart from this, Shaheen Afridi took 2 wickets, Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan took 1-1 wickets.