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Live Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Cricket World Cup 2019: live score and latest updates


Live 
 Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Cricket World Cup 2019: live score and latest updates

Imam-ul-Haq
Imam-ul-Haq is stumped off the bowling of Mohammad Nabi CREDIT: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS 

Match Summary

Pakistan v Afghanistan

Pakistan need 18 runs to win from 2.5 overs

Date:
29 June 2019
Match:
Match 36
Venue:
Emerald Headingley, Leeds
Start time:
11:30
Umpires:
Nigel Llong / Paul Wilson
Toss:
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat.
Pakistan need 18 runs to win from 2.5 overs

Afghanistan:227 for 9 (50.0 overs)

Afridi (10-0-47-4)

Pakistan:210 for 7 (47.0 overs)

Wasim 41*, Riaz 4*
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WICKET! Shadab run out 11

Rashid starts with a dot before Imad works one. Shadab comes forward to a full one and edges four! Shadab works into the leg side now. It's an easy one...but they push two and the throw is good again! Alikhil whips off the bails and the third umpire confirms that Shadab is short of his ground. Yet. Another. Twist. The new man, Wahab, has come out wearing a cap. He's batting with a fractured finger, too. What a chaotic finish. FOW: 206/7

OVER 46: PAK 200/6 (Imad Wasim 41* Shadab 6*) chasing 228 

Gulbadin stays on and he blinks first, sending down a full toss that is swept for four by Imad. The next ball is spooned in the air...and Asghar makes a meal of it. It drops to the turf. Two runs.
Imad drives strongly into the leg side for a couple more. This is the over they are targeting and Imad has some momentum. But he also has some cramp. The physio is out there to help him stretch out.
Eventually he is ready to face Gulbadin again, and picks up another boundary. It's streaky, edged between the 'keeper and third man - who is up in the ring.
Then another four! Gulbadin provides width and is cut hard. Sixteen from the over with a ball remaining! Now the equation comes down to 30 needed from 25 balls. 
A leg side wide! Oh no. Gulbadin has cracked here. The last ball goes for a single to bring up Pakistan's 200.

Warning

OVER 45: PAK 182/6 (Imad Wasim 23* Shadab 6*) chasing 228            

Two precious, precious dots from Shinwari's leg spin. The first one was almost a caught and bowled opportunity. Make that three dots. Shadab cannot beat backward point. Four dots! Great work at short cover.
Shadab is on the back foot picking up one from the fifth ball of the over. Imad takes a single down to long off now. Five overs remaining. Still 46 runs to win.

OVER 44: PAK 180/6 (Imad Wasim 22* Shadab 5*) chasing 228           

Imad is not reading Rashid out of the hand at all. He is waiting and playing from the pitch. Off the first ball he wafts at a googly and gets one.
Shadab soaks up a dot and then works a single to long on before Imad turns his wrists on a back-of-a-length delivery. Single.
Another googly brings a leg bye. Four runs from five balls..and that's a good finish from Pakistan. Imad  pushes between long on and deep mid-wicket and the batsmen cross for a couple. The equation now: 48 runs needed off 35 balls.

Support direct from England

OVER 43: PAK 174/6 (Imad Wasim 18* Shadab 4*) chasing 228          

Mujeeb begins his ninth and Imad goes to the reverse-sweep. He hits the fielder at short third man. No run. 
One off the next ball, a full one that is whacked to long on. Shadab cannot get a quicker ball away but does get off strike with a shovel into the leg side. Then Imad late cuts for a couple. The over is completed with a nudged single. Five from it.
A mini-victory for Afghanistan, but Mujeeb only has one more.

OVER 42: PAK 168/6 (Imad Wasim 14* Shadab 3*) chasing 228         

Skipper Gulbadin returns and does a nice job....for four balls. Those go for just three but then a tame full toss is bullied back down the ground for four by Imad.
A single makes it eight off the over, which will do nicely for Pakistan. Eight overs remaining, 59 to win.

OVER 41: PAK 161/6 (Imad Wasim 8* Shadab 1*) chasing 228        

Heart in mouth stuff, now, and plenty of noise confusing things. It's bedlam. Pakistan's batsmen trade singles  of Shinwari's leg spin before scurrying a couple out to the leg-side sweeper. Imad gets a looping leading edge into the off side off the final delivery but it falls safe.

Match action

Rashid Khan appeals for the wicket of Imad Wasim.
PA
CREDIT: PA

OVER 40: PAK 157/6 (Imad Wasim 4* Shadab 0*) chasing 228       

Mujeeb's eighth is testing and, amazingly given their earlier struggles, Afghanistan's fielders are supporting their bowler. Just a single to Imad from this one thanks to some athletic stops. Ten overs to go. And 71 runs required. Do you reckon England are watching from somewhere in Birmingham?

WICKET! Sarfaraz run out 18

A Rashid googly rears and beats Imad. Another wrong 'un then slides past the left-hander. Two more dots follow. Rashid releases pressure with a full toss but Imad can only push one...and then we have a run out appeal! We're up with the third umpire after Sarfaraz tried to push two...he's gone! Pakistan are six down!
It was an excellent throw from Najibullah on the rope and some tidy glovework from 'keeper Alikhil. That is also the end of the 39th over. FOW: 156/6

OVER 38: PAK 154/5 (Sarfaraz 17* Imad Wasim 3*) chasing 228      

The seamer Gulbadin Naib comes back on. Tight bowling. The win predictor thing has Afghanistan 50-50 now!  But Sarfaraz Ahmed spots a slower ball last ball of the over and whacks it away, a rare and priceless boundary for the Pakistan side comes from the skipper's bat. This one is set up for a thrilling finish - and here is Charlie Morgan to talk you through to the close after this drinks interval.

OVER 37: PAK 146/5 (Sarfaraz 11* Imad Wasim 1*) chasing 228     

Poor umpiring again - this one would have been LBW for all money but sadly for the Afghans they have on reviews left. Rashid Khan to Imad Wasim, pitches lefg stump, he plays across the ball and is hit in front. That should have been out.
No runs off the bat in the over - two balls fizz and hurry down leg, each called a wide.

OVER 36: PAK 144/5 (Sarfaraz 11* Imad Wasim 1*) chasing 228    

Mohammad Nabi completes an absolutely superb afternoon's work with the ball. Ten overs no maiden two for 23.
The Afghan team mob round him to say well done and he singles out Rashid Khan, giving him a good gee up as if to say "over to you pal, win us this match."

OVER 35: PAK 142/5 (Sarfaraz 10*) chasing 228   

That has made it very interesting! 

WICKET! Haris Sohail lbw b Rashid Khan 27

He's done it! Last ball of the over. He plays back, he tries to  defend with a bat not coming down straight, and well he has simply missed it. Played down the wrong line, hit in front of leg stump. FOW 142/5
Sohail LBW
Sohail LBW CREDIT: SKY

Rashid Khan is coming on

Afghanistan need a wicket, Pakistan are ticking over a leetle beet too comfortably.

OVER 34: PAK 137/4 (Sohail 27* Sarfaraz 9*) chasing 228  

Mohammad Nabi, skilfully worked around for five singles.

OVER 33: PAK 132/4 (Sohail 25* Sarfaraz 6*) chasing 228                  

Samiullah Shinwari to Haris Sohail. Good tidy stuff. Just three off the over.

OVER 32: PAK 129/4 (Sohail 23* Sarfaraz 5*) chasing 228                 

Three runs off the Mohammad Nabi over. This Pakistan pair facing up to the battery of Afghan twirlymen in a cap apiece.

OVER 31: PAK 129/4 (Sohail 22* Sarfaraz 4*) chasing 228                

Samiullah Shinwari. Sarfaraz Ahmed. Skipper has drilled a catch straight back at the bowler! And he has dropped it! Oh, Afghanistan! A huge moment. It was knee high, no such thing as an easy caught and bowled really, but that is certainly one you would want to be taking more often than not. Shame.

OVER 30: PAK 124/4 (Sohail 19* Sarfaraz 2*) chasing 228               

Sarfaraz, who has an extra A in his name these days for some reason (!). comes to the crease.

WICKET! Mohammad Hafeez c Hashmatullah Shahidi b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 19

Poor from Hafeez! A languid, lazy slash to backward point, a short ball. Disappointing. Should have left it or battered it. FOW 121/4
No side like Pakistan for keeping things interesting, is there?

OVER 29: PAK 121/3 (Hafeez 19* Haris 18*) chasing 228              

Samiullah Shinwari to Mohammad Hafeez, quiet over, three runs over.

OVER 28: PAK 118/3 (Hafeez 17* Haris 17*) chasing 228             

Gulbadin Naib to Haris Sohail. Cut for four. I would not bowl with that much width if I were you.
But last ball of the over, slanted across, Haris Sohail flicks at it and the umpire gives nothing for the caught behind. AFG have no reviews left - and woe be unto them! Because it looks like this did flick something on the way through.
Haris Sohail
Haris Sohail gets away with one

OVER 27: PAK 113/3 (Hafeez 17* Haris 13*) chasing 228            

Samiullah Shinwari to Haris Sohail. Sohail, one of the players this tournament who has really established himself as a major force, feasts on some width with a typically attractive cut for four. That came off a pie first ball, but the rests of the over is well bowled.

OVER 26: PAK 108/3 (Hafeez 17* Haris 9*) chasing 228           

Gulbadin Naib, the seamer, bowling it either short of a length or simply very short. Variations of pace stop the batsmen hurting him too much though.

OVER 25: PAK 103/3 (Hafeez 15* Haris 6*) chasing 228          

Samiullah Shinwari drops too short, and dear old Mo Hafeez is onto that quickly: heave-ho with the pull shot, four easy runs.

OVER 24: PAK 96/3 (Hafeez 9* Haris 5*) chasing 228         

Mohammad Nabi to Mohammad Hafeez. Two runs off the over. The win predictor yoke has Pakistan about 78%. England will certainly hope that Bangladesh can do something though..

OVER 23: PAK 94/3 (Hafeez 8* Haris 4*) chasing 228        

Hi everyone. Tyers here. Samiullah Shinwar on for a tweak. just three runs off the over, whose undisputed highlight is a throw coming in from Rashid and hitting Gulbadin on his bottom!

OVER 23: PAK 94/3 (Hafeez 8* Haris 4*) chasing 228        

We are going to have an over from Shinwari with Afghanistan under-staffed due to Hassan's injury. He's a leg-spinner, and starts well. Hafeez pushes one back to him and then works one through the off-side off the back foot. That was slightly dangerous - we've seen plenty of deliveries skid on today.
Two dots to Haris follow before Pakistan's left-hander works one. Shinwari drops short on his final ball but gets away with it. Hafeez laps a pull to long on. Just one. Let Alan Tyers take you through the next hour or so.

Match action

Nabi and Afghanistan celebrate removing Babar.
Getty Images Europe 
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES EUROPE 

OVER 22: PAK 91/3 (Hafeez 6* Haris 3*) chasing 228       

Accurate, patient stuff from Nabi. Just a Hafeez single to show for it.

OVER 21: PAK 90/3 (Hafeez 5* Haris 3*) chasing 228      

Three more singles from Rashid's next. Fairly comfortable as these two batsmen find their feet.

OVER 20: PAK 87/3 (Hafeez 3* Haris 2*) chasing 228     

Nabi rattles through another rapid set, just three singles coming from it.

OVER 19: PAK 84/3 (Hafeez 1* Haris 1*) chasing 228    

Poor from Gulbadin at backward point. He allows Hafeez to pick up one after a leg bye from Rashid's first ball. Four dots follow, with a big appeal for lbw on the last.

OVER 18: PAK 82/3 (Hafeez 0* Haris 1*) chasing 228   

Haris Sohail joins Hafeez and pushes his third delivery for a single to get off the mark. Hafeez blocks his first ball. 

WICKET! Babar b Nabi 45

Well, well,  well. This just got far more interesting. Nabi has two in three balls. He pushes another full one through, Babar goes to sweep and is cleaned up around his pads! Two new batsmen, some hope for Afghanistan.  FOW: 81/3

OVER 17: PAK 81/2 (Babar 45* Hafeez 0*) chasing 228  

Babar picks off Rashid with a couple of twos either side of the wicket and then adds a fortunate boundary, reaching out to drive and edging behind the wicket for four. A guided single ends the over. The new man, by the way is Mohammad Hafeez.

WICKET! Iman st Alikhil b Nabi 36

Babar sweeps round-arming Nabi for one but Iman just gets slightly stuck. Four dot balls later, the opener charges down the wicket. Nabi fires a flatter one under his bat and Alikhil takes very nicely before whipping off the bails. FOW 72/2

OVER 15: PAK 71/1 (Imam 36* Babar 35*) chasing 228 

Rashid is too short to Babar . He's cut for two and then pulled over mid-wicket for four. A single brings Iman on strike and  Rashid is more accurate to the left-hander. There is an lbw appeal after a top-spinner cramped up Imam. Nothing doing.

OVER 14: PAK 64/1 (Imam 36* Babar 28*) chasing 228      

The wicket is still helpful for the spinners and Nabi beats Imam outside off. Nice take from wicket-keeper Alikhil. However, a strong, certain drive adds two the following ball. Four from the over with two earlier singles to either batsman.
Here comes Rashid.
AFP
CREDIT: AFP

OVER 13: PAK 60/1 (Imam 33* Babar 27*) chasing 228     

A square drive brings a single to Babar before Imam adds another two into the leg-side. The sweeper is Rashid Khan, but he cannot release his throw quickly enough. Imam takes one to get Babar back on strike and another out-field mix-up - this time with Mujeeb fumbling - allows Pakistan to accumulate a further couple.
Six from Gulbadin's over.

OVER 12: PAK 54/1 (Imam 30* Babar 24*) chasing 228    

There has been some hairy running and some ropey fielding inside the ring today. The latest installment sees Iman call through Babar after dropping the ball into the offside. Despite a yes-no dance, the batsmen make it.
A single Babar is the only other run from Nabi's first over.

OVER 11: PAK 52/1 (Imam 29* Babar 23*) chasing 228   

Mujeeb stays on...and so nearly gets a reward. Imam picks up three off the first two balls, bringing up the 50 partnership in the process, but then Babar goes back and almost chips a return catch. It drops just short of the bowler.
Mohammad Nabi is going to have a twirl.

Sport plus politics

OVER 10: PAK 49/1 (Imam 26* Babar 23*) chasing 228  

Babar takes one, Imam drops back and nudges a hard-run two before dropping his hands to take a single to third man. Gulbadin ends the powerplay with a dot.

OVER 9: PAK 45/1 (Imam 23* Babar 22*) chasing 228 

Mujeeb is into his fifth. The batsmen trade singles before a carrom ball draws a loose air-drive from Babar. They would have loved a little scratch on that. Babar retains the strike with a single, though. 

OVER 8: PAK 42/1 (Imam 22* Babar 20*) chasing 228

Imam works to the leg side and Pakistan pick up two with a mis-field. Afghanistan don't need that...or this. Imam edges Gulbadin through the vacant slip cordon for four.
Consecutive boundaries! That is really sloppy at mid-on from Asghar. A check-drive went straight to him...then through him.

Meanwhile...

There is a good tussle developing at Lord's. Australia, batting first, are 90/4 off 20.2 overs.

OVER 7: PAK 32/1 (Imam 12* Babar 20*)      

Babar steps out and is struck on the pad outside off by Mujeeb. There is a big appeal and the verdict is not out...we have a review, though. And it's a bad one. Babar was a good way outside the line. Paul Wilson does not need to change his decision.
It is a maiden, though.

Match action

Afghanistan celebrate the wicket of Fakhar.
Getty Images Europe 
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES EUROPE 

OVER 6: PAK 32/1 (Imam 12* Babar 20*)     

Gulbadin, hovering at just under 80mph, is helped out by a diving stop in the covers. Imam  gets the fourth ball away with a dab through gully. 
Babar steps right across his poles and flicks one before a dot finishes the over.

OVER 5: PAK 30/1 (Imam 11* Babar 19*)    

Mujeeb's third over is worked for four singles. Captain Gulbadin takes over from stricken Hassan.

Some England news

OVER 4: PAK 26/1 (Imam 9* Babar 17*)   

Hassan is on the spot but Babar plays with soft hands and picks up another four past second slip and down to third man. There is a play and miss outside off but then Babar flicks his third boundary through mid-wicket.
Hassan is struggling here. He finishes the over, Babar steering one towards third man, and limps off.

OVER 3: PAK 17/1 (Imam 9* Babar 8*)  

Mujeeb is slightly full to Babar, who flicks into a gap for a single. The bowler does not adjust his line well enough to Imam, either, and is glanced for four down to fine leg.
A single brings Babar back onto strike, and he nudges another one to the leg side.

OVER 2: PAK 10/1 (Imam 4* Babar 6*) 

Hassan zips his first ball across Imam, who pulls the second ball for four through mid-wicket. This is a good contest. Just those four runs off the over.

OVER 1: PAK 6/1 (Imam 0* Babar 6*)

Babar strokes a nerveless four through the offside and then drops back, punching two through square leg. He is  clearly seeing it big, but Afghanistan are off the mark too. Hassan Ali, fired up and playing his final match for Afghanistan, will take the second over.

WICKET! Fakhar lbw b Mujeeb 0

Wow! Mujeeb pins Fakhar in front second ball - zipping one back into the left-hander - and umpire Paul Wilson pulls the trigger! There's a review from the batsman and a number of replays...with suggestion of an inside edge.
But it's out! The carrom ball from Mujeeb takes another victim. FOW: 0/1

The chase is on

Pakistan's openers, Fakhar Zaman and Iman-Ul-Haq,, are out there and Mujeebhas ball in hand.

Trend-setter

No so straightforward?

Good stuff from Cricinfo here. 
Cricinfo
CREDIT: CRICINFO

Pakistan need 228 to win

Afghanistan started strongly and could have been aiming at around 260 with a bit more proactivity and perhaps one more good partnership. But Pakistan kept picking up wickets.
Shaheen picked up 4-47 and there were two wickets each for Imad and Wahab.
Action Images via Reuters 
CREDIT: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS 
So much will rest on how much pressure Afghanistan's trio of spinners - Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rehman and Mohammad Nabi - can build.

OVER 50: AFG 227/9 (Shinwari 19* Mujeeb 3*) 

Mujeeb misses the first three before edging a boundary down to third man. He swings and misses at the fifth, too. Then it's total carnage!
Amir bowls a full toss that Mujeeb smears to long-on. Shinwari runs two and Pakistan go to the keeper's end because Mujeeb is stuck in treacle. Sarfaraz collects and tries to flick into the stumps. He misses. Mujeeb trips over Pakistan's skipper and goes flying. 
It does not cost an extra run. 

OVER 49: AFG 221/9 (Shinwari 19* Mujeeb 1*)

Wahab drifts wide and then hits a couple of yorkers. Mujeeb digs out the second one. And that's seriously poor batting.
Shinwari hits the last ball to the cover sweeper and does not run..he moans that the scoreboard was showing that there was still one ball remaining but that error is emblematic of how Afghanistan have fallen away this afternoon.

WICKET! Hassan b Wahab 1

Shinwari takes a single to the man on the circle at mid-wicket and Wahab snaffles up the invitation. He goes full and straight at Hassan, who cannot keep it out. FOW: 219/9

OVER 48: AFG 218/8 (Shinwari 18* Hassan 1*)              

Useful start for Afghanistan. Shinwari attempts a wild club and picks up four with an under-edge that misses the stumps and goes for four. The batsman then cloths one to wide mid-wicket and wants two...but only gets one. That's poor from the new man Hassan, who misses one outside off next up.
He does get off strike next ball with a single, though. Shinwari misses another slower ball and then gets a sweep away for one. Wahab Riaz will take the penultimate over...

OVER 47: AFG 211/8 (Shinwari 12* Hassan 0*)             

Shaheen spears in a yorker before Shinwari works a single. Three to go.

WICKET! Rashid c Fakhar b Shaheen 8

Khan comes down the track to Shaheen but is beaten outside off. He connects next ball, whirring a full delivery over extra cover and picking up a couple. That was a slower ball from Shaheen, and he follows it up with a bouncer that Khan ducks.
Another slower ball then completely flummoxes the batsman. Rashid can only chip to mid-off, and Fakhar gobbles up the chance. FOW: 210/8

OVER 46: AFG 208/7 (Shinwari 11* Rashid 6*)            

Four dots from Amir to Khan, and then...wow. It's an MS Dhoni special. Khan drops deep into his crease, stepping across to off stump, and whips four! What is more, he stands still and grins cheekily at Amir.
There's a quick single to steal the strike next ball. Good stuff.

ICC statement

Remember that plane earlier this afternoon?

OVER 45: AFG 203/7 (Shinwari 11* Rashid 1*)           

Rashid Khan is next up and gets himself into a real mess first ball. He ducks into a short ball that skids on and skims the top off his neck on the way through to Sarfraz. There is a single to end the over, at least.
Thirty balls remaining. Amir will bowl 18 of them. He's back, to a chorus of cheers and horns.

WICKET! Najibullah b Shaheen 42

Shinwari works one and Najibullah evidently decides to take his chances. He swishes wildly at Shaheen's second ball before picking up an important four over point to take Afghanistan over 200. 
But then he's gone. It's a drag-on, Najibullah carving at a wide, full ball and inside-edging back onto his stumps. FOW: 202/7

OVER 44: AFG 197/6 (Najibullah 38* Shinwari 10*)          

Shadab steps up for the last of his 10-over allocation. Shinwari and Najibullah share five singles, including one attempted reverse-sweep from the former that comes off the back of his bat and somehow travels through mid-on.
Shadab finishes with figures of 10-0-44-1.

More concerning scenes

OVER 43: AFG 192/6 (Najibullah 36* Shinwari 7*)         

Shinwari is struggling a little out there and Shaheen pins him down with three dots before releasing the pressure slightly with a wide. Then there's a drop! Shinwari panned a slower ball straight back and Shaheen could not hold on.
Shinwari works the penultimate ball for one but Najibullah cannot keep the strike. Seven remain.

OVER 42: AFG 190/6 (Najibullah 36* Shinwari 6*)        

Promising over for the batting side, featuring three singles and a swift two for Najibullah after he drove Shadab against the spin to deep cover.

Match action

Najibullah has unfurled a couple of reverse-sweeps now. He has to be there into the 47th or 48th over for Afghanistan to get what they need here.
Action Images via Reuters 
CREDIT: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS 

OVER 41: AFG 185/6 (Najibullah 33* Shinwari 4*)       

Superb work from Shaheen. He's coming around the wicket, naturally shaping the ball in and then away off the surface. Four dot balls tie down Shinwari to start and only a single - courtesy of a bobble - comes from the over.

OVER 40: AFG 184/6 (Najibullah 33* Shinwari 3*)      

Shadab is brought back by Sarfaraz and there is some real turn now. The leg-spinner rags one down the leg-side for a wide. Just two more singles from the over, though. Ten left. Sixty balls. A run a ball would be very useful.
Powerplay three starts, so five players can retreat outside the circle. Shaheen is coming back as well.

OVER 39: AFG 181/6 (Najibullah 32* Shinwari 2*)     

Three dots off the first three balls from Wahab and three singles to end the over.

Oh dear...

OVER 38: AFG 178/6 (Najibullah 30* Shinwari 1*)    

Two fours for Najibullah off Imad, one a reverse-sweep and the next a front-foot slap. Good batting. He keeps the strike with a single. Twelve to go...at least 50 more required, I would say.

OVER 37: AFG 169/6 (Najibullah 21* Shinwari 1*)   

Samiullah Shinwari is in at eight for Afghanistan and is squared up first ball. His edge flies through the vacant gully region for one and Najibullah adds a single to end the over.

WICKET! Nabi c Amir b Wahab 16

A potentially game-shaping wicket there. Wahab begins with a wide before the batsmen trade singles. The bowler then digs one in and Nabi pulls. He cannot keep it down, though, and Amir comes in to take an excellent, low catch at fine leg. FOW: 167/6

OVER 36: AFG 164/5 (Nabi 15* Najibullah 19*)  

Nabi clips a quick single off the third ball of Imad's return over. Then a crisp, swivelling reverse-sweep from Najibullah picks up four. Lovely shot. Imad responds well, a quicker one yorking the batsman. 
For those interested, Australia have won the toss at Lord's and will bat against New Zealand.

OVER 35: AFG 159/5 (Nabi 14* Najibullah 15*) 

Wahab is back and Nabi steers him for two before adding four leg byes to his side's total. That one brushed him on the pads on the way down the leg side and Sarfaraz is very annoyed after a dive to his left.
Seven from the over with another Nabi single. Fifteen overs - 90 balls - to go. Five wickets remaining. Imad has the ball in his hand.

Loud in Leeds

AP
CREDIT: AP

OVER 34: AFG 152/5 (Nabi 11* Najibullah 15*)

What do Afghanistan need to give Pakistan a jittery time against their spinners? At least 230 would be my guess, although the wicket looks very dry. 
That will help. Najibullah bangs his second four through the leg-side, waiting on some shape from Amir and powering the ball through straight mid-wicket.

Advantage Pakistan

That mini-session certainly belonged to Sarfraz and his boys in green. They broke the partnership between Alikhil and Asghar. One more quickly and you would think that a total of 200 could be beyond the batting side.

OVER 33: AFG 145/5 (Nabi 10* Najibullah 10*)

Ooooh. Nabi gets a bit lucky. He attempts to take Shaheen over the in-field but only succeeds in getting a ballooning edge down the third man. 
A Shaheen bouncer is called for a wide and drinks are taken after Najibullah digs out a yorker to run a single.

Key man

AFP
CREDIT: AFP
 Afghanistan need at least 10 overs of Nabi from here.

OVER 32: AFG 142/5 (Nabi 9* Najibullah 9*)                         

The left-handed Najibullah dabs one to third man before Nabi takes a couple more sighters. He will give himself time to launch at the back end of this innings, you would have thought. 
Najibullah seems to be seeing it well. He whacks one to mid-off later in the over.

OVER 31: AFG 140/5 (Nabi 8* Najibullah 8*)                        

Nabi pushes strongly for one and Afghanistan have their first boundary for a long while when Najibullah plays a short-arm pull off Shaheen. Wahab's effort on the boundary isn't particularly dynamic, which riles Sarfaraz.
At the end of the over Nabi plays and misses after getting back on strike.

Unsavoury scenes

Cricinfo reporting that two fans have been evicted from Headingly after"physical clashes" between the two sets of supporters.

Twenty overs remain for Afghanistan

I think they would be delighted with 240 from here.

OVER 30: AFG 134/5 (Nabi 7* Najibullah 3*)                       

Some width from Amir and a front-foot slap for one from Najibullah, who slips on the turn. Nabi pushes a comfortable single and Najibullah drives for three in a row.
A powerful pull from Nabi follows. He looks pretty good out there. It's just a single, though. Two dots to Najibullah end Amir's comeback. He's gone for 14 off his five overs so far. Some player.

OVER 29: AFG 130/5 (Nabi 4* Najibullah 0*)                      

Soclose! Shaheen's first ball is a cutter that holds in the wicket and so nearly kisses Nabi's glvoes on the way through to Sarfaraz. A loud, long appeal is turned down by Nigel Llong.
Nabi cuts one and Shaheen concedes a wide with a bouncer. Then another down the leg side. Najibullah gets off the mark with a back-foot push to end the over. A roar around Headingley tells us that Amir is back. 

OVER 28: AFG 126/5 (Nabi 4* Najibullah 0*)                     

Just a Nabi single into the off-side from that Shadab set.Time for Afghanistan to consolidate again. Shaheen comes back in a bid to remove Nabi and derail this innings.

Match action

AP
CREDIT: AP
Those two wickets have put a great deal of pressure on Nabi and Najibullah Zadran, who arrives at the crease now. Alikhil faced 66 balls for his 24 runs.

WICKET! Alikhil c Hafeez b Imad 24

Good cricket from Nabi, who pushes and calls a single early. Alikhil then sweeps Imad out to deep-backward square.
Nabi cuts and Alikhil gets in a tangle attempting a scoop before a pretty tame attempt at going down-town. He's pouched by Hafeez about three metres in from the fence. FOW 125/5

OVER 26: AFG 122/4 (Alikhil 22* Nabi 1*)                     

Nabi gets away with a controlled cut for one. Alikhil continues to use his feet but misses this one. There's an appeal, a not out call and a review!
Alikhil was a long way down, which obviously doesn't matter any more. Ball-tracking saves him. It's umpire's call on height, so the teenager survives.

WICKET! Asghar b Shadab 42

Big wicket! Sarfaraz keeps the silly point there and Asghar swipes clumsily towards the leg-side. He's clean bowled, a flatter ball from Shadab just clipping the off peg.
Here comes Mohammad Nabi. Afghanistan need something significant from one of their elder statesmen. FOW: AFG 121/4

OVER 25: AFG 120/3 (Alikhil 22* Asghar 42*)                    

Good, accurate stuff from Imad and just three from the over. We reach the halfway point.  

OVER 24: AFG 117/3 (Alikhil 20* Asghar 41*)                   

Alikhil steps out and works one to the left of long-on. This is interesting. Sarfaraz appoints a silly point for Asghar, who sweeps hard in response. He gets one, and Alikhil adds another single with the same method.

OVER 23: AFG 114/3 (Alikhil 18* Asghar 40*)                  

Imad is back, and is irritated when Alikhil picks up one to long-on past a diving Shadab. Asghar and Alikhil trade singles before a big turner squares up the former. Good over for Pakistan with just three from it. Something might just have to give fairly soon as we near the halfway point.

OVER 22: AFG 111/3 (Alikhil 16* Asghar 39*)                 

Better from Alikhil. He works two singles off his two balls in Shadab's over. Asghar picks up two more. 

Match action

An old-school, seated huddle for Pakistan at drinks.
ICC
CREDIT: ICC

OVER 21: AFG 107/3 (Alikhil 14* Asghar 37*)                

Asghar clips a single and 18 year-old Alikhil gets off strike at the fourth time of asking. He's now faced 45 balls. Asghar pulls a single, slightly unconvincingly, off the final ball of the over. 

OVER 20: AFG 104/3 (Alikhil 13* Asghar 35*)               

Asghar calls his junior partner through for a quick single. Well run in the end. Afghanistan pick up a couple more off Shadab. They have a few strong clubbers lower down, but rotating the strike is going to be really important here. 

OVER 19: AFG 101/3 (Alikhil 12* Asghar 33*)              

Another four for Asghar, this time cut past point as Wahab provides a little width. There is a hurried single before Alikhil plays out the remaining three deliveries.

OVER 18: AFG 96/3 (Alikhil 12* Asghar 28*)             

Sure enough, Asghar sashays down the wickets and blazes Shadab's second ball after drinks over the off-side for four. He then adds a single.
When Alikhil gets him back on strike, Asghar pans a second six! This one is slightly straighter than his first but in the same general direction - mid-wicketish. A scurried single ends the over. Good batting.

Finely poised

Asghar has been positive since arriving. If he hangs around for another 15 overs or so, Afghanistan will certainly have something to bowl at.
AP
CREDIT: AP

OVER 17: AFG 83/3 (Alikhil 11* Asghar 15*)            

Wahab appears to be into his rhythm now. He beats Asghar outside off stump and picks up three further dots before Asghar's prod passes a diving Shadab at point. The batsmen cross for a single. Alikhil survives two short balls to end the over and take Afghanistan to drinks.

Appeal at Headingley

OVER 16: AFG 82/3 (Alikhil 11* Asghar 14*)           

Frustration for Pakistan. Asghar drives loosely and picks up four off Shadab's first ball. There was no slip. Sarfaraz brings in Babar for the next delivery, which Asghar pushes for one.
Alikhil soaks up four more dots to end the over.

OVER 15: AFG 77/3 (Alikhil 11* Asghar 10*)          

Wahab starts with a couple of wides and then gets unlucky as Alikhil comes forward and edges him past second slip for four. The bowler replies with a slippery bouncer. Another change from Sarfaraz. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan is on.

OVER 14: AFG 71/3 (Alikhil 7* Asghar 10*)         

A single from Alikhil brings Asghar on strike, who hoiks the first six of the match over mid-wicket! He then slices a top-edge from a sweep and gets lucky, picking up two over the top of short fine leg.
Nine from the over, and Sarfaraz is going to turn to Wahab Riaz.

Match action

Imad and Alikhil tangle at the non-striker's end.
AP
CREDIT: AP

OVER 13: AFG 62/3 (Alikhil 6* Asghar 2*)        

Asghar Afghan is the new man and watches his partner face five balls from Hafeez. Alikhil is staying back, which is dangerous with Pakistan's spinners skidding the ball through. 
He does pick up two and then a cut single, though. When the right-handed Asghar does take strike, he sweeps decisively for a couple. 

WICKET! Rahmat c Babar b Imad 35

Imad continues, spearing down darts above the 60mph mark. There is a leading edge from Alikhil, who picks up a streaky single past point.
Rahmat scoops brilliantly for four...but is then sent packing! Imad drops his speed slightly and a leading edge pops up to Babar at cover. Another easy catch, another set-back for Afghanistan. FOW AFG 57/3 

OVER 11: AFG 51/2 (Rahmat 30* Alikhil 2*)       

Off-spinning 38 year-old Mohammad Hafeez joins the game and is milked for five simple singles all around the wicket. Alikhil drops the final ball into the off-side and Hafeez finishes with a dot.
Interesting to hear Wasim Akram on Sky Sports duty suggesting that 250 or 260 would represent a challenging total given the quality of Afghanistan's spinners.

OVER 10: AFG 46/2 (Rahmat 27* Alikhil 0*)      

Three dots from Imad forces an iffy shot out of Rahmat. He comes down the wicket and chips down the long-on. He was beaten in the flight there and that was very close to a return catch. Alikhil, who has now faced 10 deliveries without getting off the mark, then comes forward and is beaten by one that skids on past his outside edge. 

OVER 9: AFG 45/2 (Rahmat 26* Alikhil 0*)     

Composed batting from Rahmat, who waits until Shaheen comes slightly straighter and works away a boundary off his hip. The bowler responds by coming around the wicket and Rahmat picks up another leg-side single.
The left-handed Alikhil, slightly starved of strike so far, is beaten outside off. Imad returns in place of Amir.

Match action

Shaheen is a popular guy in this side, clearly. Here are the celebrations following his second wicket.
Action Images via Reuters 
CREDIT: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS 

OVER 8: AFG 40/2 (Rahmat 21* Alikhil 0*)    

Amir mixes his lengths well, throwing in a yorker that Rahmat digs out. The over ends with a single that is nudged into the leg-side. Rahmat keeps the strike again. 

OVER 7: AFG 39/2 (Rahmat 20* Alikhil 0*)   

Rahmat continues to impress here. He takes four off Shaheen down the ground and then pulls in front of square for a couple more. The over finished with a single down to third man. Rahmat goes to 20 and keeps the strike.

Match action

Action Images via Reuters 
CREDIT: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS 
 Mohammad Hafeez is *just* beaten to the boundary. 

OVER 6: AFG 32/2 (Rahmat 13* Alikhil 0*)  

Rahmat, who watched the carnage of that last over from the non-striker's end, drives Amir firmly and picks up one despite an athletic stop from Mohammad Hafeez.
Amir raps Alikhil on the pads and is given out by umpire Paul Wilson! The batsman reviews immediately and is reprieved. Big inside edge. Poor decision. 
Just one from the over.

OVER 5: AFG 31/2 (Rahmat 12* Alikhil 0*) 

Mad over. Wicket-keeper Ikram Alikhil, another left-hander, is promoted and his first-ball is another full in-ducker that deflects off his pads and past Sarfaraz for four runs.

WICKET! Hashmatullah c Imad b Shaheen 0

First-baller! Hashmatullah Shahidi comes and goes. This one was drifting down the leg-side but the new man is early on the shot and can only lob a leading edge to Imad at mid-off, who takes one of the easiest catches this tournament will witness. After a good start, Afghanistan are tottering. FOW: AFG 27/2

WICKET! Gulbadin c Sarfaraz b Shaheen 15

A change of bowling for Pakistan sees Shaheen Afridi take the ball...and Gulbadin slaps him between cover and mid-off. He then picks up a couple after Shaheen shies at the stumps before another slapped off-side boundary. Imposing stuff from Gulbadin.
Huge appeal now, though...Shaheen thinks Gulbadin has nicked off to Sarfaraz. Umpire Nigel Llons says no and we go to a review.
Ultra Edge spots a little scratch from a wafting shot outside off-stump - Llong though the noise was bat on ground, I think - and Gulbadin has to go! FOW: AFG 27/1

OVER 4: AFG 17/0 (Rahmat 12* Gulbadin 5*)

Rahmat makes it two off-side boundaries in two balls for Afghanistan, driving Amir through the umbrella. Sky Sports are showing a predicted total of 260, which would set up a very interesting game.
Amir drops short now, and Rahmat is equal to it. He pulls nicely for four. just one bounce and over the rope/cushion. The boundaries are just over 60 metres square on both sides of this wicket. That is...inviting. Eight from Amir's second.

OVER 3: AFG 9/0 (Rahmat 4* Gulbadin 5*)  

Patient batting from Gulbadin, and a sign of how trues this wicket is. Imad is full and accurate and the batsman hits mid-off a couple of times in the over.
On the final ball, though, Afghanistan's skipper opens the face slightly and gets a boundary to the right of cover.

Outside the ground...

...there's a party going on.
Action Images via Reuters 
CREDIT: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS 
 It is not quiet inside Headingley, either.

OVER 2: AFG 5/0 (Rahmat 4* Gulbadin 1*) 

Shape for Amir straightaway but Rahmat jams an in-swinger towards mid-wicket, where there is a diving stop from Fakhar Zaman. 
Amir pushes the next five across Rahmat, who whooshes and misses at one but plays the rest nicely enough. A maiden for Amir to start.

OVER 1: AFG 5/0 (Rahmat 4* Gulbadin 1*)

Rahmat is off the mark second ball, using Imad's drift to punch to long-on. Gulbadin also gets away second ball, flicking to deep-backward square. 
Rahmat picks up another couple through mid-wicket and finishes the over as he started it, by punching a single down the ground. He keeps the strike. Here comes Mohammad Amir.

Here we go then

Rahmat Shah is going to take the first ball, which will be bowled by Pakistan's slow left-armer Imad Wasim.

Another melon head

ICC
CREDIT: ICC
 It's going to be loud in Leeds.

Meanwhile...

...the world prepares to hear from Virat Kohli.

Big toss?

The wicket looks flat and the conditions seem gorgeous for batting, but Pakistan will back themselves to restrict Afghanistan and then chase whatever is posted.
ICC
CREDIT: ICC
 Anthems next.

Teams


Pakistan 

Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain and wicket-keeper), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi
Hamid Hassan
Hamid Hassan returns to the Afghanistan side CREDIT: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS 

Afghanistan

Gulbadin Naib (captain), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wicket-keeper), Rashid Khan, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Gulbadin Naib reckons there might be some turn later on that his spinners, chiefly Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, will be able to capitalise on. Sarfaraz Ahmed admits he would have batted first as well, but says Pakistan have plenty of momentum.

News from the toss

Afghanistan have won it and will bat. We'll have team news for you shortly. The wicket looks lovely and it is warm.

Last time out for Afghanistan

They were unfortunate to come up against the all-round brilliance of Shakib Al Hasan. Here is our report, from Isabelle Westbury.
Getty Images Europe 
CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES EUROPE 

Conditions

There is bright sunshine bathing Leeds at the moment and it could hit 30 degrees at some point in the early afternoon. However, there is the possibility of a thunderstorm later on.

Buzzing in Durham

If you missed the cricket yesterday, South Africa recorded a morale-massaging victory over Sri Lanka thanks to a fine partnership between Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla.
ICC
Suranga Lakmal takes cover CREDIT: ICC

Michael Vaughan speaks for England fans everywhere...

Good morning!

 be littered with dead rubbers by the end of June?
AFP
CREDIT: AFP
Afghanistan remain rooted to the foot of the table after seven straight defeats. However, a win today would provide a welcome boost.
Australia face New Zealand later on today at Lord’s, but this one holds the starkest implications for knockout qualification. England will be desperate for an Afghanistan victory.

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