PAK VS AFG - Super Four, Match 2, Asia Cup 2018

Spare a thought for Afghanistan who came so close to taking down yet another giant in ODI cricket. They fought valiantly, but it wasn't to be. Pakistan have prevailed. Phew.. just the kind of game to spark the Asia Cup to life. That's all from us here. Good night!

Malik, MoM: Being a senior player, the goal was to bat to the 50th over. That was the only thing. At one stage the required rate was 10, but I kept telling myself to play till the last over. Even good bowlers, when they're bowling at the end, the situation is different. As batsmen we can charge them. Would like to congratulate them. Everyday they've been improving. I think they're a great side.

Sarfraz, Pakistan captain: We were shaken. Credit to Imam, Babar and the way Shoaib played towards the end, that was fantastic. The spinners they have, I reckon they're the best in the world. Against them, to chase 250 in these conditions, you have to bat out of your skins. Shadab couldn't pass his fitness test. Got a lot of confidence the way we won today. Team has been motivated by this performance. Our fielding has improved in last one and a half years, but today it went awry.

Asghar Afghan, Afghanistan captain: I congratulate Pakistan, they played really well. It was tough and thrilling. The crowd enjoyed the game. It is the first game in this Asia Cup - close game. Lot of credit to Babar and Imam. They played very well and built a crucial partnership. If you give a chance to a senior player like Malik, it's difficult. Malik chased down and they won the game. Today, Hashmatullah and myself played well and we wanted 240+. Our fielding and medium-pacers let us down. I think on this type of track, Rashid is good. 4 overs 40 is tough to score and that's why we went with the same plan, but they played very well.

Harsha Bhogle: Bit of inexperience from Afghanistan. But well played. Need another good quick bowler though.

23:50 Local Time, 19:50 GMT, 01:20 IST: Shoaib Malik punches the air in delight. On a night where things got too close for comfort for Pakistan, he has shown what a champion he is and how badly they need his experience in tricky situations. When to attack, which bowler to target, which bowler to see off, this was just a lesson in finishing off a game. Pakistan appeared to be in control with the 154-run stand between Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam, but the pace at which they went meant that the batsmen to follow were always going to be under pressure against Rashid Khan. That's where Malik was instrumental in taking it deep and keeping his cool. He wasn't going to be denied, much to the agony of Alam who is devastated.

Harsha Bhogle: Pakistan's best player under pressure is still Shoaib Malik.

Aftab Alam to Shoaib Malik, FOUR, full ball on middle and leg, another poor delivery, and it's game over! Malik swipes it past short fine leg for the win. Sarfraz is pumped on the balcony, while Aftab Alam is in tears

Aftab Alam to Shoaib Malik, SIX, shocker from Alam, a waist-high short ball on leg stump which is pulled away witheringly into the crowd. Malik showing his class. It's now 4 from 4

Aftab Alam to Shoaib Malik, no run, Alam hits his mark. It's almost in the blockhole, no chance for Malik to get under the ball as he targets the mid-off region. Squeezed away into the off-side, declines the single

Abhishek: I hope the denied double to complete Shahidi's century doesn't affect the match.

It's come down to 10 off the final over. Aftab Alam in a long conference with the Asghar Afghan. They've decided on keeping mid-off in the ring. Malik on strike

Rashid Khan to Hasan Ali, no run, oh almost! It's the googly from Rashid which slips past the inside edge and is a whisker away from knocking over off

Rashid Khan to Hasan Ali, no run, swings again but misses! The ball skidding through from a length and hurtling past off stump

Rashid Khan to Hasan Ali, SIX, Hasan Ali swings his first ball for a big six! Crazy. He may or may not have picked which way it was spinning, but he bent his back knee and bludgeoned it as hard as he could. Got enough meat on it

Hasan Ali, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Nawaz, out Bowled!! Rashid Khan delivers. He has cleaned up Nawaz. What an ill-fated heave! Pushed through on a length, skids through right under Nawaz's bat as he swipes across the line. Rashid spreads his arms and twirls his wrist. Mohammad Nawaz b Rashid Khan 10(8) [6s-1]

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Nawaz, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Rashid Khan to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, dances down but maybe he got a little too close to the ball, hence couldn't get much elevation. Dragged off the inside half to deep midwicket

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, darted in on middle and leg, Nawaz pulls it with the turn to deep square leg

This has to be the over for Afghanistan. Rashid with his last

Aftab Alam to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run, goes back to the yorker and nails it. All Nawaz can do is dig it out for a single

Aftab Alam to Mohammad Nawaz, SIX, clubbed into the stands! Alam goes for the back of a length slower ball to Nawaz and gets heaved over wide long-on. He did so well with the full length to Malik, not sure this was the right move