Asia Cup 2018: Super Four, Match 2, Pakistan vs Afghanistan- Best memes of the match

Afghanistan were brimming with confidence coming into their first Super 4 match in the 2018 Asia Cup against Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Asghar Afghan and Co fought valiantly and ran Pakistan ever so close, but eventually, it was the Men in Green who emerged triumphant by three wickets in a last-over cliffhanger.

Shahidi and Afghan blaze away

Asghar Afghan won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first. Afghanistan’s start wasn’t impressive as left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz nipped out Ihsanullah Janat and Mohammad Shahzad in quick succession. Thereafter, Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi carved a recovery with an ominous-looking 63-run stand, which was eventually broken by Nawaz.

Afghan, the Afghanistan skipper, joined Shahidi and both buckled down to carve a partnership of 92 runs from 99 deliveries. Hasan Ali broke the stand by dismissing Afghan for 67 runs, much to Pakistan’s relief. Shahidi took the onus upon himself and blazed away to a knock of 97 runs from 118 balls with the help of seven boundaries. Afghanistan eventually scored 257 runs in their 50 overs.

Imam and Babar guide Pakistan

The run-chase didn’t start on an auspicious note for the Men in Green as Mujeeb Ur Rahman pinned opener Fakhar Zaman for a six-ball duck. His opening partner left-hander Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam didn’t drop the gun though and smothered the bowling. Both didn’t play a stroke out of anger and stitched together a stand of 154 runs in 195 deliveries.

The partnership came to an ended with Imam’s run-out. To add to Pakistan’s agony, Babar Azam became Rashid Khan’s first victim. Haris Sohail and Shoaib Malik added 36 runs to reduce the Men in Green’s target to 64. Mujeeb removed Haris to give the Afghans their fourth wicket. In the end, Malik scored a half-century, held his nerves and took Pakistan over the line in the last over.

Here are the memes

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