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Babar Azam-led Pakistan claimed the no.1 spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings with a convincing 59-run win over Afghanistan in the third ODI at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on August 26. Mujeeb Ur Rahman showed some fight with the fastest half-century for an Afghan batter in ODIs but it was not enough to negate the batting collapse in the slog overs of the run chase.
Azam won the toss and opted to bat first. Gulbadin Naib got rid of both openers Fakhar Zaman (27) and Imam-ul-Haq (13). Azam and Mohammad Rizwan shared a 110-run partnership for the third wicket. Rashid Khan broke the partnership with the wicket of Azam. He scored 60 runs from 86 balls. Then Saud Shakeel got run out for a single-digit score. In the next over, Rizwan got out lbw to Fareed Ahmad. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 67 runs from 79 balls.
Shadab Khan, the hero of the second ODI, failed to make a mark and got bowled by Mujeeb in the 41st over. Agha Salman and Mohammad Nawaz shared a crucial 61-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Nawaz scored 30 runs from 25 balls. The southpaw got out in the penultimate over. Salman's unbeaten 31-ball 38 helped Pakistan post 268/8.
In the run chase, Afghanistan lost their in-form opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz to Faheem Ashraf for a single-digit score. Ashraf then got Ibrahim Zadran out for an 11-ball duck. In the 21st over, Shadab got rid of opener Riaz Hassan (34) and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (13). Naib got out lbw to Salman in the next over as Pakistan were reduced to 62/5. Nawaz got the wicket of Nabi and Rashid to reduce Afghanistan to 97/7 in the 33rd over.
Shahidullah Kamal helped Afghanistan recover as he held on to one end. Mujeeb survived early in his innings as there was no DRS available. In the next over, Mujeeb smashed Ashraf for two sixes and a four. He was nearing his half-century when Shahidullah got out lbw to Shadab. He scored 37 runs from 65 deliveries. Mujeeb reached his half-century in the 43rd over from 26 deliveries.
In the 46th over, Mujeeb got out hit-wicket. He scored 64 runs from 37 balls including five fours and as many sixes. It is the highest score by a no.9 batter against Pakistan in ODIs. In the penultimate over, Afridi got the better of Ahmad as Afghanistan got all out for 209 and lost the match by 59 runs.
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