Gurbaz’s ton in vain as Pakistan clinch last-over thriller for 1-wicket win

HAMBANTOTA: Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s run-a-ball 151 went in vain as Pakistan on half-centuries by opener Imam-ul Haq and skipper Babar Azam and a crucial 48 by Shadab Khan to win a last-over thriller for a one-wicket win in the second ODI here on Thursday.

Pakistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series against Afghanistan with a nail-biting win in a match that produced 602 runs, the highest match aggregate involving the two teams in ODIs.

In the death overs of the second innings which was filled with one dramatic moment after another, Pakistan managed to hold their nerve to win the second ODI by the barest of margins – with a ball and a wicket to spare.

Naseem Shah was once again the tormentor for Afghanistan as he snatched away what could have been their maiden ODI win against Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan were helped to a solid total of 300/5, courtesy of a brilliant 151 from Gurbaz. This was their highest total against their regional rivals, Pakistan.

Gurbaz’s knock, which included 14 boundaries and three sixes, saw him take the Pakistan attack to the cleaners. Together with Ibrahim Zadran (80), he added 227 runs for the first wicket, Afghanistan’s second-highest partnership for any wicket.

Pakistan go into the final ODI in Colombo on 26 August with an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Brief scores: Afghanistan 300/5 in 50 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 151, Ibrahim Zadran 80; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-58) lost to Pakistan 302/9 in 49.5 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 91, Babar Azam 53, Shadab Khan 48; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-69, Mohammad Nabi 2-46) by 1 wicket. IANS

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