Twitter Reactions: Naseem Shah takes Pakistan into Asia Cup 2022 finals after a miraculous chase

The clash between Afghanistan and Pakistan became as interesting as it could and the two teams put up a fighting performance. But in the end, Pakistan managed to pull off a miracle, and the No. 10 batter Naseem Shah took the Men in Green into the finals of the Asia Cup 2022. With Pakistan's win, India and Afghanistan have been knocked out of the tournament. 

Winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam opted to bowl first. The Afghanistan openers started on a high note and kept the run rate near 10 before Haris Rauf scalped Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the fourth over to give his side the breakthrough. Gurbaz's walked off scoring an 11-ball 17, including two sixes, and his opening partner Hazratullah Zazai followed him soon in the next over, courtesy of Mohammad Hasnain.

Ibrahim Zadran and Karim Janat held their places on the field for a good time but failed to score big. The Pakistan bowlers did a great job in restricting Afghanistan batters, who never looked to be in good touch after the two quick wickets. Janat and Ibrahim shared a 35-run partnership for the third wicket, but it took them 39 deliveries to do so.

Najibullah Zadran, who had been in good form recently, also could not work the magic with his bat. Skipper Mohammad Nabi's poor run with the bat continued as Afghanistan faced a batting collapse in the middle and Pakistan bowlers rejoiced. Then came Rashid Khan, who smashed some runs across the stadium towards the end, to take his side to a total of 129/6. On the other hand, every Pakistani bowler picked up at least one wicket.

Pakistan's lower-order batters rise above a scary collapse

Pakistan’s start to the chase, just like their other three games in the tournament so far, was disappointing as skipper Babar Azam walked off for a golden duck this time and his poor form with the bat in this tournament continued. Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed him on just the second ball of the innings and got his team a breakthrough.

Mohammad Rizwan got his game going and played some clever shots, but Pakistan faced another blow when top-order batter Fakhar Zaman was dismissed in the fourth over off Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s delivery. Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed took the game forward then, but though they managed to hold their places on the field, the duo failed to hit the big runs.

Afghanistan bowlers stood up to the expectations and made it difficult for Pakistan to score runs with ease, even though the target was low. Rashid Khan’s delivery to dismiss Rizwan was brilliantly placed, and that brought Shadab Khan on the crease. The right-handed batter started slow, but then went on to smash Nabi for a huge six, outside the stadium, and followed it with a four.

Shadab kept going and smacked another big six off Rahman’s delivery in the next over, which helped Pakistan cut short the chase drastically within just a few balls. The game turned in the final few overs when Pakistan’s batting order collapsed miserably.

Fareed Ahmad dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed in the 16^th over, Rashid Khan scalped Shadab Khan in the 17^th, Farooqi struck twice to pick Mohammad Nawaz and Khushdil Shah in the 18^th, and Fareed struck twice in the 19^th to dismiss Haris Rauf and Asif Ali.

The game came down to the final over with Pakistan needing 11 runs to win, and Afghanistan being just a wicket away from clinching the victory. Just then, Naseem Shah came to the rescue and smashed two sixes in a row and took Pakistan over the line. Pakistan pulled off a thrilling chase and won the game by just a wicket, thereby confirming their place in the finals.