ICC T20 World Cup | Nabi and Naib lift Afghanistan to 147

Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat.

Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib’s power-packed 71-run stand off just 45 balls took Afghanistan to 147/6 in a Super-12 contest at the ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai on Friday.

Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat. It was a surprise because Dubai has been favourable to the chasing sides so far. Shaheen Shah Afridi ran in, new ball in hand, with the Pakistan fans grooving and chanting: “Afridi!” His first over, packed with swing, pace and fire, ruffled the openers Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad. There were two ambitious appeals for lbw; Babar Azam reviewed one after Zazai missed a big heave but replays showed the ball missing the leg stump by a big margin.

With two right-handers at the crease, left-arm spinner Imad Wasim came into the attack in the second over. The move paid dividends as Zazai, trying to break free, miscued an attempted big shot over mid-wicket only for the top-edge to be taken smartly by Haris Rauf. Afridi then accounted for Shahzad in the next over as Afghanistan lost both openers for just 13.