ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: [WATCH] Afghanistan Celebrate Sensational Victory Over Pakistan With A Victory Lap

In a stunning turn of events, Afghanistan has once again defied the odds, securing a remarkable victory over Pakistan in a nail-biting One Day International (ODI) World Cup 2023 match. Led by their captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan pulled off a sensational win by an impressive margin of 8 wickets at the iconic Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.

This unexpected triumph by the Afghan cricket team will undoubtedly be etched in the annals of ODI World Cup history as one of the most significant upsets. The jubilant Afghan players even celebrated their triumph by taking a victory lap around the Chepauk stadium, a fitting tribute to their exceptional performance.

Watch The Video Here:

Not an easy change at all in Chepauk. But what an calm and composed chase it was.

To top it all, #Afganistan going on an victory lap after the win sums up the crowd support knowledgable #Chepauk #KnowledgableChennaiCrowd#PAKvsAFG pic.twitter.com/lBvk1Ugl4C

— Santhosh Kumar (@Santhosh_1511) October 23, 2023

The clash between Afghanistan and Pakistan was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Pakistan, captained by the talented Babar Azam, chose to bat first and set a competitive target of 282/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

Babar Azam played a pivotal role in this effort, crafting a well-earned 74 runs from 92 deliveries. Afghanistan’s reply to this challenging target began on a strong note, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran forming a formidable partnership of 130 runs for the first wicket, showcasing their batting prowess over 127 balls.

The match took an interesting twist when Shaheen Afridi managed to dismiss Gurbaz after a commendable 65 runs off 53 balls in the 22nd over. However, the Afghan team was undeterred by this setback. Rahmat Shah joined forces with Zadran, contributing another 60 runs for the second wicket, only to be dismissed by Hasan Ali in the 34th over.

The star of the show, Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who came in as the fourth batsman, remained unbeaten, anchoring his team to victory with an impressive partnership that added 96 runs to the scoreboard.

The first innings witnessed a solid opening partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, setting a strong foundation for Pakistan. Yet, the Afghan bowlers, particularly the debutant Noor Ahmad, who recorded figures of 3/49, emerged as game-changers and limited Pakistan to a total of 282/7.

Despite a commendable effort by Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistan found themselves unable to post a more formidable score. Afghanistan’s resounding triumph in this match marks their third victory in the history of the ODI World Cup.

Firmly establishing them as a formidable contender in the tournament. Their performance not only defied expectations but also highlighted the unpredictable and thrilling nature of ODI cricket on the global stage.­

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