ISLAMABAD: A confident Pakistan eyeing a series victory will take the field today, Thursday, against Afghanistan at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, as the two sides clash in the second ODI of the three-match bilateral series.
Pakistan routed Afghanistan in the first ODI of the series played at the same venue by 142 runs on Tuesday. After a disappointing performance with the bat, Pakistan dismissed Afghanistan for a hapless 59 after managing to put up a modest 201 runs on the scoreboard.
While Afghan spinners took full advantage of a turning track to put Pakistani batters in trouble, the green shirts’ fearsome pace attack ensured Afghanistan folded while attempting to chase the target.
Right-arm pacer Haris Rauf led Pakistan’s pace battery against Afghanistan, finishing with career-best figures of 5-18 while Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 2-9. Fast bowler Naseem Shah took one wicket as Pakistan bowled out Afghanistan inside 20 overs to complete their victory.
Pakistan will, however, need to come up with a strategy to solve their batting woes. The team’s skipper Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha, and Muhammad Rizwan failed to score impressively, struggling particularly against spin bowling.
The series provides an opportunity for Pakistan and Afghanistan both to prepare for the 50-over Asia Cup and ICC Men’s World Cup. The Asia Cup is scheduled to kick off from August 30 with Pakistan and Sri Lanka as co-hosts while the World Cup is scheduled to begin from October in India.
