AFG VS PAK - 24th Match, Super 12 Group 2, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2021

After quite a few days of one-sided contests, we've finally had a day befitting the tournament. Two cracking games, one going right down to the final delivery and this game going deep too. Pakistan will be pleased - 3/3 and two of those wins have come with them being under some pressure towards the end. They are cantering towards that semifinal spot. It's all about who joins them to that stage. Afghanistan will be gutted with today's result but with their high net run rate, they still do have a chance. Hope you enjoyed our coverage of this game. Another double-header tomorrow, and two blockbuster clashes in the offing too. Do tune in nice and early to catch our coverage. Until then, this is Hari Sadanandan signing off on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Nikhil Jadhav, Abhinand Raghavendran and Mukesh. Cheers!!

Babar Azam: We started well with the ball, got a lot of wickets like we planned. Maybe gave away 10-15 runs too many at the end. With the bat, we couldn't capitalise the powerplay as we wanted to. At the end, with Malik and Asif Ali, we knew they could do the job. He (Asif Ali) is known for this and I was confident pre-tournament itself that he would deliver when needed. We planned our strategies well with the ball, and also ensured that he kept the uneven boundary dimensions in mind while bowling. Spinners were getting some grip from the track, Afghanistan have quality bowlers too and I was trying to take it as deep as possible. Unfortunately I couldn't finish things off but credit to Asif Ali.

Mohammad Nabi: We didn't start well but the total on the board was a decent one for this pitch. We discussed that 150 would be a good score and so we dug deep. And then got some runs in the last few overs. I think three spinners are enough. Rashid bowled at the right time and we tried to take the game deep. Asif Ali played really well in the 19th over. Lot of positives from today's game. We fought really well till the end.

Asif Ali, Player of the Match: I would like to congratulate the Pakistan team and all our fans. I was confident of finishing it off from this end and that's what I told Shoaib Malik before he got out. I look at the situation of the match, and I target the bowlers accordingly. I was talking to Shoaib when I walked in to bat and I told him that I was confident enough of getting 20-25 in one over against Karim Janat, which I did.

Highest SR in T20 World Cups (25+ runs)
414.3 Dwayne Smith (29 off 7) v Ban 2007
362.5 Yuvraj Singh (58 off 16) v Eng 2007
357.1 Asif Ali (25* off 7) v Afg 2021
353.8 Jehan Mubarak (46* off 13) v Ken 2007
340.8 Carlos Brathwaite (34* off 10) v Eng 2016

* First defeat in 18 T20Is in UAE for Afghanistan
* 14 successive wins for Pakistan in UAE

21:35 Local Time, 17:35 GMT, 23:05 IST: For the second game running, Pakistan have Asif Ali to thank. For the second straight game, they almost self-destructed chasing a below-par total, only for the tables to be turned in style. 147 was clearly 20-25 less on this deck but Afghanistan fought hard, right from the start, getting Rizwan early to set to the tone. Babar and Fakhar did rebuild things with a steady stand but Pakistan weren't running away with the game. And it stung them as Rashid then produced a cracker of a spell. Wickets started to fall and Pakistan's skipper was guilty of throwing it away against Rashid's final delivery. Naveen-ul-Haq then started to crank up the pressure and it soon became 24 needed off 12. Definitely a pressure situation you'd think. Except that Asif Ali entered once again, and like in the NZ game, swung the game Pakistan's way with a flurry of sixes. The bowling to him wasn't great either but credit where it's due - it was fantastic hitting under pressure. Afghanistan did try hard, but they clearly needed those 20-25 runs extra.

Karim Janat to Asif Ali, SIX, Asif Ali blasts Pakistan home with six balls to spare! Slower and fuller, width on offer and he carves it over deep cover. It's a big boundary there but doesn't matter, he has gotten it all over the fence. What hitting this is! Wowza!

Karim Janat to Asif Ali, SIX, six-dot-six-dot-six! Asif Ali you freak! Cool as a cucumber he is! Slot ball from Janat, criminal offence and it's being lofted down the ground, dead-straight and into the sightscreen

Karim Janat to Asif Ali, no run, yorker again as the riposte to the six, well-bowled and Ali can't lay a bat on it

Karim Janat to Asif Ali, SIX, it's a deja vu of the previous game for Pakistan! Ali getting them home on a canter! Slower and shorter, he is expecting the length as he swivels and pulls over deep mid-wicket for a flat maximum. Short boundary that side and Ali gets full reward

Karim Janat to Asif Ali, no run, wide yorker, perfect execution and Ali fails to dig it out. Good comeback from Janat

Karim Janat to Asif Ali, SIX, Ali does what he does! Afghanistan should have known from the PAK-NZ game that you can't bowl slot to Ali, even if they are slower ones. You generally can't to any powerhitter but certainly not to him. He stays deep, and lays into the length, smoking high over long-off for a gigantic blow. Pressure-release shot

Karim Janat [3.0-0-24-0] is back into the attack

It's getting super-tense. 24 runs | 12 balls. Massive penultimate over coming up. Has to be Janat to bowl.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Shadab Khan, no run, slower and shorter, nudged it towards the leg-side and Naveen-ul-Haq himself chases it down. Prevents the single and also has a shy at the striker's end. Shadab just about got back in time. What an over from Naveen-ul-Haq!

Run out check! Oh, Shadab is just in.

Shadab Khan, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Naveen-ul-Haq to Shoaib Malik, out Caught by Mohammad Shahzad!! Edged and gone! Doesn't matter which team is doing well, the Dubai stadium is going nuts. It's the Afghans' turn this time as Naveen-ul-Haq's over continues to get better and better. Just two singles in the first four balls and Malik senses the urge to find the fence. Naveen-ul-Haq cleverly goes wider and much fuller than the batter expects and hence, the attempted drive results in a thick edge. Mohammad Shahzad does the rest and he is absolutely chuffed, so are his mates. Shoaib Malik c Mohammad Shahzad b Naveen-ul-Haq 19(15) [4s-1 6s-1]

Naveen-ul-Haq to Shoaib Malik, THATS OUT!! Caught!!