Afghanistan vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI at Hambantota, AFG v PAK, Aug 24 2023 - Match Result

What a humdinger of a game that went down to the last over and had everything. Pakistan might have sealed the series but there is one more game to go on Saturday and we will be right here as always brining all the action live. Till then, it's a goodnight from us!

Babar Azam: All credit to the boys. We just tried to build the partnership when me and Imam were playing, just wanted to play long and see where we stand after 40 overs. We knew we could chase 80 or 90 in the last 10 overs. Naseem also comes up in crunch situations. [Batting against spin] I always try to improve. Can never be satisfied. We see different quality of bowling. I am never worried about my skills and just back my skills at all times. All focus on the last match

Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghanistan captain: It is hurting because we had enough runs but at the last moment they took the game away from us. The over which...49th over there were some easy balls to the batsman and they smashed it. They [openers] are playing very good from one and half years. I want them to play the same way. Both are good sides. The pressure, we weren't able to control.

Shadab Khan is the Player of the Match: When you are a senior player, you go through these stages every time. I try to be as calm as possible. The pitch was...their players have worked class spinners, so I wanted to take on fast bowlers. The boundaries were long. My plan was to go for two's. After that shot [against Zimbabwe at the World Cup], we lost the game. I was blaming myself. For me, that was a crucial moment.

11:38pm Time for the presentation.

11:28pm Pakistan were set up in the chase with a 52-run opening stand between Fakhar and Imam before the former fell. But Imam, in the company of Babar, almost set up the perfect platform with a 118-run second-wicket partnership. But the wicket of the Pakistan captain opened familiar wounds for them as they collapsed steadily. In the end, it was down to Shadab keeping his cool and almost taking them to the doorstep with the couple of shots in the penultimate over off Rahman, who had a real off day.

Ahmad : "Don't need Asif Ali when you have Naseem shah. This is the beauty of cricket 8hrs of game and comes down to the last ball and the number 10th. At 20 years old I feel I might get a heart attack being a pct fan."

Adil RK: "Naseem vs Farooqi, a better love story then TWILIGHT. Naseem - 2 , Farooqi - 0"

11:24pm Pakistan have had a jail-break and narrowly escape losing to Afghanistan in an ODI for the first time. And as the players shake hands, Babar has a few words with Nabi. Perhaps about the Shadab run-out? Never a dull moment with Pakistan in action, eh!

They were down and out when Shadab marshalled the lower order. And perhaps were gone when Shadab was run-out backing up. But Naseem once again did the unthinkable. Afghanistan cannot believe they have bottled this up. Gurbaz is seen mouthing a few words as he makes his way off the field. A fantastic 151 ends up on the losing side

Haris Rauf at the non-striker's end

Farooqi has 10 to defend. Pakistan need 11. Shadab is off strike

Run

Rahman pulls out of delivering and Naseem sets out to back up!

27 needed off 12. Too late or still possible? Rahman for the penultimate

Adeel: "Changes in batting order were only to experiment some combinations before Aisa Cup and world cup. In my opinion M. Nawaz can be a better option than Mir, who can also help in making a right left combination in lower middle order "

Naseem Shah in at No. 10. Farooqi around the wicket

Sadiq: "Perhaps Pakistan will need that 2 sixes from Naseem again" With Hasnain's bat, eh?

Atif Azad: "Asif Ali, anyone?" Missing him, Pakistan?

Nabi and Rashid seen having a chat. No field changes

Farooqi back for his last two

Anas: "Where's the third option in the poll?? It should be a "Cardiologist all the way" "

Amal: "A couple of lusty blows needed from Afridi. Where have we heard that before?"