Afghanistan vs Pakistan Match Highlights T20 World Cup Updates: Asif Ali's Cameo Powers Pakistan to 5-Wicket Win Over Afghanistan

Pakistan dominated the game for most of the time but Afghanistan crawled back in the second half of the chase. Babar Azam played a responsible knock once again to set up the platform for the chase. Rashid Khan was brilliant with the ball and it was questionable by Nabi to use him so late in the game. Meanwhile, it was ASIF ALI who stole the show by hitting four sixes against Karim Janat to seal the deal for his game. It’s the third win on the trot for Pakistan and they are undoubtedly one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

And it’s DONE AND DUSTED! ASIF ALI YOU BEAUTY! He once again takes his team over the line. Absolute marvellous as he smashes four sixes in Karim Janat over to finish the game with 1 over to spare. All of strikes were super clean as Karim tried everything to contain him but failed miserably. Excellent fightback from Afghanistan but in the end, ASIF ALI stole the show. Pakistan 148/5 in 19 overs Beat Afghanistan (147/6) by 5 Wickets

AND Afghanistan are now back in the game completely! Shoaib Malik gone for 19 as Pakistan are half down in the 148 chase. Excellent bowling from Naveen Ul Haq as he forced Malik to play a shot after playing a couple of dot balls. Malik tried to break the shackles and edged it to Shahzad behind the stumps. PAK 124/5 in 17.5 overs vs AFG (147/6)

Rashid Khan wins the battle against Babar Azam on the last ball of his spell. The Pakistan skipper attempted the slog sweep but missed any connection with the ball and Rashid hit the timber. However, 12 runs came from the over and the equation is still in Pakistan’s favour at the moment. PAK 122/4 in 17 overs vs AFG (147/6)

Babar Azam completes his half-century and it’s another responsible knock from the Pakistan skipper. Afghanistan need to get his wicket and Rashid Khan has one over left to do it. The equations look easy for Pakistan at the moment and Babar will look to take his team over the line in another game. PAK 105/3 in 15.4 overs vs AFG (147/6)

With Mohammad Hafeez’s scalp, Rashid Khan completes his 100th wicket in T20I cricket. He is the quickest to achieve the feat – 53 matches.

And RASHID KHAN STRIKES! Mohammad Hafeez is the man who is walking back towards the pavilion after playing a rash shot. It seems like Hafeez made up his mind before Rashid bowled the delivery as he straight away lofts the ball over long-on where Gulbadin Naib takes a comfortable catch. PAK 97/3 in 14.1 overs vs AFG (147/6) 

Rashid Khan is putting pressure on Babar Azam who looks clueless against him. This battle is going to decide the fate of this game. The required run-rate has suddenly gone over 8 as Afghanistan are crawling back in the game but they need wickets to make something from here. PAK 89/2 in 13 overs vs AFG (147/6)

BIG WICKET! Mohammad Nabi gets the better of Fakhar Zaman by taking off the pace from the ball. The southpaw tried to play the sweep but misses everything and got plumb in front of the wicket. Mohammad Hafeez is the new man in the middle. PAK 75/2 in 11.1 overs vs AFG (147/6)

And Rashid Khan finally came into the attack and asked some tough questions with the ball. However, it seems like Nabi was too late to bring him into the attack. Rashid almost gets Babar Azam out in the over but the DRS saved the Pakistan captain. PAK 75/1 in 11 overs vs AFG (147/6)

Another expensive over as 10 runs came from it. Pakistan dominated the first half of the chase and Afghanistan need something magical from Rashid Khan to make something out of this game, otherwise, Babar and Fakhar are looking to take away the game from Afghan’s reach. PAK 72/1 in 10 overs vs AFG (147/6)

A big over for Pakistan as 13 runs came from it. Afghanistan are taking a very big risk here by delaying Rashid Khan’s involvement in the game with the ball. He is their big man here to provide breakthroughs. Meanwhile, Babar Azam has found his groove and is now scoring at a healthy rate. PAK 62/1 in 9 overs 

Karim Janat bowled a fine over off 5 runs but Afghanistan’s search for a breakthrough continues as still there is no hint of Rashid Khan so far. Nabi might use him in the second half of the innings to control the scoring rate which will be a brave call. PAK 49/1 in 8 overs vs AFG (147/6)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman finished his spell with another tidy over. Six runs came from the over as Mujeeb ends with 1/14. A very economical spell but he didn’t get much support from the other end. Fakhar and Babar are taking Pakistan forward in the chase with total ease at the moment. PAK 44/1 in 7 overs

Fakhar Zaman is batting with some offensive approach here as Afghanistan are feeling the pressure now. We might see Rashid Khan a bit early tonight. 7 runs came from Naveen’s over. Babar Azam might play the anchor role in this chase which is going to be crucial. PAK 38/1 in 6 overs vs AFG (147/6)

Fakhar Zaman stated his intentions right away by taking on Mohammad Nabi and smashing him for a four and a six. 14 runs came from the over. Afghanistan can not afford such expensive over in the early stage of this innings. They need to build pressure with some tight overs. PAK 29/1 in 4 overs vs AFG (147/6) 

MASSIVE BLOW! And that’s what Afghanistan needed as Mohammad Rizwan is walking back towards the pavilion after scoring just 8 runs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman draws the first blood here as Naveen-ul-Haq takes a good catch at deep. Afghanistan need to carry on this momentum to find more wickets. PAK 12/1 in 2.3 overs vs AFG (147/6) 

Afghanistan are trying to attack the Pakistan openers with the spinners from both ends. Eight runs came from the Nabi’s over as Pakistan are looking to take things easy here. Afghanistan need a couple of wickets in the powerplay. PAK 11/0 in 2 overs vs AFG (147/6)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman started the proceedings with a tidy over as only three runs came from it. The only way to put pressure on Pakistan is to take wickets here as dot balls will not make much here with the required run rate near 8. The surface is good for batting and Afghanistan spinners need to bring their A-game on the table. PAK 3/0 in 1 over vs AFG (147/6)

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam are out in the middle for the chase. Mujeeb Ur Rahman will start the proceedings with the new ball.