SCORECARDCOMMENTARY
AFG WON
T20
AFG beat PAK by 4 wickets
PAK
115-10
18.0/20 Ovrs
116-6
17.5/20 Ovrs
AFG
Asian Games Men’s T20I, 2023 |2nd Semi-Final |10/6/2023
ZJUT Cricket Field. Hangzhou, Zhejiang
ZJUT Cricket Field. Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Commentary
- Right then this is it from the second Semi-final of the Asian Games 2023 as Afghanistan has advanced through to the Gold Medal match where they will be facing India while Pakistan will be up against Bangladesh for a Bronze medal match. You could join us for both the games on Saturday with the Bronze Medal game set to be played from 6.30 am IST (1 am GMT). You could join us an hour before for the build-up as well. For now, you can enjoy the ongoing ICC CWC game between Pakistan and the Netherlands as well. Till then have a nice time.
- Pakistan's bowlers put up a commendable performance, but ultimately, it was the runs on the board that made the difference. A margin of 20 more runs from the Pakistani batters could have altered the outcome. Pakistan's quest for an Asian Games Gold medal concludes here, and they will now compete for third place against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's triumph sets the stage for a thrilling final showdown against India, the top-ranked T20 team in the world, as they vie for the coveted title.
- Afghanistan's batting performance mirrored that of Pakistan, with both teams losing early wickets and exposing their middle order to the new ball's challenges. However, Afghanistan found a lifeline in the form of a crucial partnership between Noor and Afsar in the middle overs, which helped them regain their footing in the game. Pakistan fought back by dismissing both set batsmen in a single over, putting them in a commanding position. As the game entered the death overs, Afghanistan's captain, Gulbadin, played a decisive role, scoring an unbeaten 26 off just 19 balls to guide his team to victory and a place in the finals against India.
- The semi-final clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Asian Games 2023 proved to be a roller coaster ride of emotions, with Afghanistan emerging as the victors and securing their place in the final against India. Pakistan, on the other hand, will compete for third place against Bangladesh as the tournament enters its final stages.
- 17.54Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! This sums up the evening for Pakistan as Mirza Tahir Baig has misfielded this for a boundary that takes Afghanistan into the final for a Gold Medal game against India. On a length in middle, Gulbadin Naib pulls this flat and hard towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
- 17.51wdAamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, Wide! Fuller one way too wide of off, Gulbadin Naib leaves ti all alone
- 17.46Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, SIX! On a length in the middle, Gulbadin Naib slogs this and connects well as the ball travels over the fence for a maximum towards the deep square leg region.
- 17.30Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, On a length outside off, Gulbadin Naib looks for the slog but misses out.
- 17.31wdAamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, Wide! Free-hit continues as Aamer Jamal has bend hi back and bowled a short one way too high for the umpire's liking.
- 17.31nb and sixerAamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, No ball and SIX! Aamer Jamal has overstepped and this has travelled over the fence for a maximum. Short-pitched delivery in middle, Gulbadin Naib pulls this out of the park and a Free Hit to follow.
- 17.24lbAamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, Four leg byes. On a length around the pads, Gulbadin Naib misses out on a wild swing but a deflection of his pads takes this away from the keeper for a boundary behind the wicket.
- 17.10Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, Back of a length body bound, Gulbadin Naib looks to pull this one but gets hit on the grill of his helmet. He looks fine to continue.
- END OF OVER 17 | 2 Runs & 0 Wkt | AFG 93/6
- With pace back into the attack this could possibly be make or break over for Pakistan.
- 16.61Usman Qadir to Gulbadin Naib, Tossed up on off, Gulbadin Naib drives this towards sweeper cover for a single.
- 16.50Usman Qadir to Gulbadin Naib, Tossed up in middle, Gulbadin Naib reverse sweep this one with no timing at al towards cover for no run.
- 16.40Usman Qadir to Gulbadin Naib, Fuller one wide of off, Gulbadin Naib looks for the wild slog but misses out.
- 16.30Usman Qadir to Gulbadin Naib, Tossed up outside off, Gulbadin Naib has no idea on how it will turn as he gets beaten.
- 16.21Usman Qadir to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fuller one on off, Sharafuddin Ashraf lofts this towards deep point for a single.
- 16.10Usman Qadir to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Tossed up on off, Sharafuddin Ashraf looks to cut but edges this towards first slip bouncing just in front of him.
- END OF OVER 16 | 2 Runs & 0 Wkt | AFG 91/6
- 15.60Sufiyan Muqeem to Gulbadin Naib, Tossed up wide of off, Gulbadin Naib looks to block this one but the spin takes it further away from the batter and he gets beaten.
- 15.51Sufiyan Muqeem to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Tossed up on off, Sharafuddin Ashraf smashes this towards deep square leg for a single.
- 15.40Sufiyan Muqeem to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fuller one around off, Sharafuddin Ashraf looks to block but gets beaten.
- 15.30Sufiyan Muqeem to Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fuller one outside off, Sharafuddin Ashraf gets beaten all ends up but ths turned away from him.