Pakistan’s Naseem Shah is well known for his pace but not many knew he could clear the ropes in a crunch situation. The youngster proved his mettle against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday as he smashed two sixes in the final over to get his team over the line in a thrilling game.
11 runs were needed for Pakistan in the final over with only one wicket to spare and thus Afghanistan had their noses in front. However, Shah smashed two sixes against Fazalhaq Farooqi on the first two balls of the over when the bowler gifted him two full tosses.
Shah revealed he had the belief to deliver the goods since he practices hard in the nets. The 19-year-old scored a fine little cameo of 4-ball 14 to help Pakistan win by one wicket and book their berth in the final of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka.
Naseem Shah said after the game, “When I went in to bat I had the belief to hit the sixes. I practice (hitting sixes) and I knew they would bowl yorkers as they had the field up. There needs to be belief, we keep practising in the nets and I also changed my bat, it worked. When I went in Asif was there and my job was to give him strike but once he got out the onus was on me. There is very little belief when you are nine down but I had the self-belief and this will be a memorable game for me. This was an important match as we knew a win today and we would be in the final.”
One thought that Afghanistan will win the contest after Asif Ali was dismissed in the penultimate over but Naseem Shah delivered with the bat. Furthermore, Shah was brilliant with the ball as he scalped one wicket and conceded only 19 runs in his quota of four overs.
Meanwhile, Shadab Khan was awarded the Player of the Match as he scored 36 runs from 26 balls and also snared one wicket. Moreover, he conceded only 27 runs in his quota of four overs.
Pakistan will now take on Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Prior to the final, both of these teams will also face each other on Friday at the same venue.
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