AFG VS PAK - 1st ODI, Afghanistan v Pakistan in Sri Lanka, 2023

This was supposed to be a slow surface but I guess no one told that to the Pakistani pacers. A lethal display of pace bowling that blew away any hopes of an Afghan tryst with history. And if this is what they can do at Hambantota, be very afraid of what they could conjure at Perth or Dubran, or even wink, wink… Ahmedabad. But that’s for another day, against a better batting unit. For now, we can recline to an early escape, see you again on Thursday!

Babar Azam | Pakistan skipper: At the toss, felt the wicket was a bit dry. We lost wickets upfront and then Imam and Iftikhar played a good hand in getting us to a decent total. We just tried to hit the hard length with the ball and build more dot balls in the powerplay. We all know what Shaheen can do with the new ball. The way Haris Rauf bowled, that spell was game-changing. I always try my level best (as a batter and captain), sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, it happens in the game of cricket. We want to stay positive.

Hashmatullah Shahidi | Afghanistan skipper: It was chaseable, we had a good chance but their bowling didn't allow us. Out shot-selection wasn't good enough and it put pressure on us. Happy with our bowlers performance and looking forward to the next game, we will try our best. Gotta be smart in our shot-selection and today we didn't do that well.

Haris Rauf | Player of the Match: Feeling well, specially tried to use the conditions and make the most of it. It's a low-scoring game but as a bowling unit we had belief and the wicket demanded hard length bowling and that's how I picked my wickets. He (Shaheen) started really well and it gave me confidence before I came to bowling. When I'm bowling the focus is not on the speed and I just try to land it where I want it to land.

20:55 Local Time, 15:25 GMT, 20:55 IST: At the halfway stage, Afghanistan appeared to be the happier side, but the joy of bowling Pakistan out for the first time didn't last long for the Shahidi-led side as three of their top four got out for a duck inside 4 overs. Gurbaz showed some resistance but was eventually removed by a peach of a delivery from Haris Rauf. In fairness, Afghanistan never turned up in the second half of the game and now need to win the remaining two games to clinch the series. The double-wicket maiden from Shaheen, Shadab's spectacular catch, first-ball wicket for Haris Rauf, Nabi and Rashid getting out in the space of 3 balls. Pakistan's bowlers, led-by Rauf's five-for, created chances and left no room for recovery right from the onset.

Haris Rauf to Mujeeb, out Caught by Naseem Shah!! And that will be it!! A full delivery and Mujeeb clears his front leg for a big swing. Hits low on the bat and Naseem running in from long-on completes the catch. Haris Rauf gets that fifer, bows to the ground and prays to God. What a bowling display this has been from Pakistan, they win by 142 runs Mujeeb c Naseem Shah b Haris Rauf 4(3) [4s-1]

Haris Rauf to Mujeeb, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Haris Rauf to Mujeeb, FOUR, in the blockhole, Mujeeb is deep in the crease and smacks it straight as an arrow for a boundary. What a lack of respect from the number 10 to the man who is eyeing a fifer!!

This should be the last wicket of the game, doubt Omarzai might come out to bat again...

Shadab Khan to Fazalhaq Farooqi, no run, a wicket maiden!! A leggie that starts on a length and spins outside off, no shot offered

Fazalhaq Farooqi, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Shadab Khan to Abdul Rahman, out Caught by Fakhar Zaman!! Flighted up and Abdul Rahman went for a big slop across the line. Toe-ends it high in the air and Zaman from mid-wicket runs in and pouches an easy one! Abdul Rahman c Fakhar Zaman b Shadab Khan 2(13)

Shadab Khan to Abdul Rahman, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Shadab Khan to Abdul Rahman, no run, another googly, darted in and Abdul Rahman defends off the outer edge towards point

Shadab Khan to Abdul Rahman, no run, flat and was the googly. Rahman just about defends

Shadab Khan to Abdul Rahman, no run, tossed up again, blocked to short cover

Shadab Khan to Abdul Rahman, no run, flighted up on off, blocked to short cover

Shadab Khan, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack

Haris Rauf to Mujeeb, no run, length ball outside off, Mujeeb takes a big slash away from the body and makes no contact. Pakistan review for a caught behind but Snicko has nothing

Appeal for caught behind and Babar has reviewed. This might be more in hope to get Haris Rauf his fifer, but let's see... yup, no contact with the bat, yards out!