Afghanistan v Pakistan: The Thread

[BuLioli]

Hello peeps. I can't believe there's not a thread for this match today. Especially since it's quite a start for the newest country to play one dayers.

It's 61-2 after 10 overs. Afghanistan seemed to have been quite clever in going after the seamers straight away, getting some runs on the board before the spinners take their turn. I reckon a score of 200+ is very possible.

[BuLioli]

Now 83-3 after 15 overs. This really is very positive play from the Afghans.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Now 83-3 after 15 overs. This really is very positive play from the Afghans.

Good to hear.

[BuLioli]

And as I go to lunch, it is 101-5 after 21.3 overs. Shahid Afridi has now taken 4 of the wickets - his brand of fast leg-breaks really seems to confound a lot of the smaller teams.

[BuLioli]

I return from lunch - and it's 162-6 from 40 overs. Pakistan have slowed the run rate right down as the spinners bowl most of the middle overs, but Afghanistan have batted very sensibly and kept some wickets for the final dash. Interesting to note that Saeed Ajmal hasn't taken a wicket...

[BuLioli]

And so the innings ends on 195. A very commendable performance I feel. Afghanistan have been very positive at times - they seem to favour the reverse sweep quite often. The next question will be to see whether their bowling and fielding is as good as their batting. This will be tough, since they are missing their best bowler Hamid Hassan due to injury.

[Guest]

Sadiq top scoring with 40, shame they were restricted to a low total.

[BuLioli]

10 overs gone in Pakistan's reply, and they are 42-2. So kudos to Afghanistan's opening bowlers. Now to start working their way through the middle order of Younis, Imran, Misbah, Afridi and Umar!

[Mike Selig]

Especially since it's quite a start for the newest country to play one dayers.

No they're not. And neither is it their first one-day international. The commentators are knowledgeless.

[Shelsey93]

Decent performance from Afghanistan though the final scorecard resembled those in the recent Bangladesh-Pakistan series.

Particularly impressive were some of the shots that they played against the spinners - I wonder if England will find those options.

[Guest]

shame that afghanistan's batting in a way failed after the bright start they had.

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