PAK VS AFG - Semi Final 2, Asian Games Mens T20I 2023

17:08 Local Time, 09:08 GMT, 14:38 IST: Afghanistan have held their nerves to edge Pakistan out in the semi-finals. After winning the toss and opting to field, the Afghani bowlers bowled brilliantly and bowled out Pakistan for a below-par total. Chasing 116 was a bit of a tricky affair on a sluggish surface and their openers departed cheaply. Noor Ali Zadran began aggressively and found some timely boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. However, the other batters around him struggled for rhythm and Pakistan kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. It was a matter of keeping composure in a small run-chase and Afghanistan found that through their skipper, Gulbadin Naib. He struck a few meaty blows to take his side home quite comfortably in the end to set a battle against India in the finals. So, that's it from our side! Join us tomorrow for the bronze medal and gold medal match. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, FOUR, that's it! Gulbadin is pumped up and he takes Afghanistan through to the finals! He takes off his helmet and lets out a roar. His teammates run in and hug him. Shortish delivery, Gulbadin stands tall and pulls it towards deep miid-wicket. The fielder makes a mess of it and concedes a boundary. Afghanistan win by 4 wickets and with 13 balls to spare

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, wide, length ball but it is too wide, Gulbadin lets it go. Only 4 more needed now for Afghanistan

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, SIX, in the arc, out of the park! That has almost killed the game! Gulbadin clears his front leg and heaves it over deep square leg for a maximum. Hit that with authority. Only 5 more runs needed for Afghanistan

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, no run, length ball well outside off, Gulbadin slogs across the line and only meets thin air

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, wide, short ball outside off but it's too short as Gulbadin lets it go. It has been wided

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, no ball, SIX, this will relieve the pressure completely! Short ball, Gulbadin was expecting it. He stands tall and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Aamer Jamal has overstepped and a Free Hit is coming up...

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, leg byes, FOUR, handy runs these! Back of a length ball shaping down leg, Gulbadin tries to help it past the keeper and seems to have got a tickle on it. Beats the keeper and runs through to the fence. It has signalled as four leg byes by the umpire

Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin, no run, this one takes off from a back of a length on off, Gulbadin goes for a pull across the line and is hit on the helmet. The physio runs out to have a mandatory concussion check on Gulbadin and he is fine

Aamer Jamal [2.0-0-10-0] is back into the attack

Usman Qadir to Gulbadin, 1 run, quicker and flatter outside off, dabbed towards short third to keep the strike

Usman Qadir to Gulbadin, no run, Gulbadin premeditates and goes for the reverse sweep. Mistimes it though and plays it straight to extra cover

Usman Qadir to Gulbadin, no run, loopy delivery outside off, Gulbadin goes for a slog sweep but only meets thin air. The pressure is building

Usman Qadir to Gulbadin, no run, that's a beauty! Pitches on a length and turns away viciously to square Gulbadin up. He gets beaten all ends up

Usman Qadir to Sharafuddin Ashraf, 1 run, slower through the air, Sharafuddin Ashraf goes hard at it and ends up squirting it over point for a single

Usman Qadir to Sharafuddin Ashraf, no run, shorter in length outside off, Sharafuddin Ashraf goes for the cut but edges it. The slip fielder does well to stop it

Sufiyan Muqeem to Gulbadin, no run, quicker through the air and the googly turns away appreciably, Gulbadin looks to dab it late but only meets thin air. End of a brilliant spell from Sufiyan Muqeem

Sufiyan Muqeem to Sharafuddin Ashraf, 1 run, short in length on middle and leg, a dragdown actually, Sharafuddin Ashraf misses out and mistimes the pull to deep backward square leg

Sufiyan Muqeem to Sharafuddin Ashraf, no run, a googly that lands on a fuller length on off and turns sharply past the attempted front foot defence of Sharafuddin Ashraf

Sufiyan Muqeem to Sharafuddin Ashraf, no run, full ball outside off, Sharafuddin Ashraf throws his bat at it but gets beaten