SHARJAH: India have been eliminated from the Asia Cup 2022 final race by Pakistan after it beat Afghanistan by one-wicket in a Super Four match in Sharjah on Wednesday. The win also confirmed Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the finalists of the tournament, with India and Afghanistan losing both the matches they have played in the Super Four.
Chasing 130 runs to win, Pakistan reached the target in 19.2 overs losing 9 wickets. They needed 11 runs from the final over when tailender Naseem Shah hit back to back sixes in the first two balls of the over off Fazalhaq Farooqi.
For Pakistan Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed scored 36 runs and 30 runs respectively while opener Mohammad Rizwan added 20. Captain Babar Azam failed to open his account. Fareed Ahmad took 3 wickets for 31 while spinner Rashid Khan claimed 2 wickets for 25.
Earlier, Pakistan dished out a fine bowling display to restrict Afghanistan to a below-par 129 for six.
Afghanistan made a positive start after being sent in to bat with Hazratullah Zazai (21) and wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz (17) sharing 36 runs for the opening wicket.
Karim Janat (15) and Ibrahim Zadran (35 off 37) then tried to steady the ship as Afghanistan reached 72 for two in 10 overs.
In the last over, Rashid Khan (18 not out) used his long handle to great effect and smashed Rauf for a six and a four to pick up 10 runs and take Afghanistan close to the 130-run mark.
Ibrahim Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan with a 37-ball 35 while opener Hazratullah Zazai made 21.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the pick of bowlers with figures of 2/26. Agencies
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