On Monday, Pakistan took on Afghanistan in their fifth match of the 2023 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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Batting first, Pakistan posted 282/7, thanks to captain Babar Azam's 82, and knocks of 40 each from Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan. Noor Ahmed took 3 wickets for Afghanistan, on his World Cup debut.
In reply, Afghanistan openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz laid a solid platform, putting on over 100 for the first wicket. But in order to win this match, Afghanistan will need to upset the odds-and the history between these two teams.
Have Afghanistan ever beaten Pakistan in ODIs?
These two sides have met on seven occasions in the 50-over format, with Pakistan coming out on top all seven times.
The first match between them took place in 2012 in Sharjah. Shahid Afridi was the star in that match, taking 5/36 to bowl the then-Associate nation out for 195, before Younis Khan's 70* steered Pakistan to victory in 37.1 overs.
In the 2019 World Cup, they played out a thrilling game in Leeds. Afghanistan scored 227/9 batting first, thanks to Asghar Afghan and Najibullah Zadran's knocks of 42 each. In reply, they reduced Pakistan to 142/5 and 156/6 before Imad Wasim led Pakistan to victory with two balls to spare, scoring an unbeaten 49.
Perhaps the closest Afghanistan have come to beating Pakistan in ODIs happened earlier this year, when the sides played a bilateral series in Sri Lanka. Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 151 as Afghanistan posted 300/5 batting first.
With eleven required off the last over, Fazalhaq Farooqi 'mankaded' Shadab Khan to leave Pakistan nine down. Pakistan eventually squeaked home with a ball to spare as Naseem Shah managed to edge the ball for a boundary.
Who will win the World Cup?
India, England and Australia are among the favourites to win the World Cup. Pakistan and New Zealand are tied on odds for the spot of the fourth team in the top four, while South Africa too stand a decent chance of making the semis.
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