Right, what a contest that was. Peter and I had so much fun covering this, and an absolutely huge number of you joined us. We appreciate each one of you, and hope you join us again for the double-header tomorrow! Good night.
"The bowlers bowled brilliantly at the start, but I think we gave 10-15 runs too many away. We didn't quite use the Powerplay as well as we hoped but Asif and Shoaib Malik at the death were brilliant. The way Asif's played many innings at the PSL, I was very confident he'd get us out of any trouble we find ourselves in.
"We had to bowl according to the situation and see how to bowl to each batter. The bowlers deserve credit for executing those plans brilliantly. The spinners were getting a lot of help, and because Afghanistan have some of the best pinners, they were getting a lot of help and bowling really well. I wanted to stay till the end but got out, unfortunately. So credit to Asif Ali," concludes a relieved Babar Azam.
"We didn't start really well - the total on the board was decent but maybe not enough," Muhammad Nabi says. "We discussed that 150 was a decent score on the pitch, and we did manage to take the game deep. I thought Rashid bowled at the right time because at 10 overs, they still needed about 8 runs an over, but Asif Ali played that 19th over really well. There are many positives to take from this. We fought to the end and it's given me more motivation to win games."
Muhammad Faisal: "President Asif Ali not Zardari
END OF OVER:19 | 24 Runs | PAK: 148/5 | RR: 7.78
- Asif Ali25 (7b)
- Shadab Khan0 (1b)
- Karim Janat4-0-48-0
- Naveen-ul-Haq3-0-22-1
9.36 pm What a tremendous match. So much energy, so many momentum swings from start to finish. Afghanistan would've felt like they had the upper hand after that 18th over, and yet the chase never made it to the 20th. Pakistan firm up their place at the top of the table with three wins from three.
Asif Ali is the Player of the Match after that rousing finish (translated from Urdu): "The boundary was small from this end so I told my partner I'd go for it this over. Thank God we pulled it off. I look at the situation and what it demands and which bowler has overs remaining, and the field setting. I told Shoaib that Naveen was bowling well, and from this end I could even score 25 in an over. So I planned for it."
Pakistan one shot away from victory.
Is another six on the way now to follow the pattern?
5th bowler letting Afghanistan down in a massive way right now.
Pendulum swings very sharply straight back to Pakistan after a magnificent 18th by Naveen. He might not even get a chance to bowl the 20th if Karim Janat keeps this up.
24 off 12 to win now. Karim Janat to bowl his last.
END OF OVER:18 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 124/5 (24 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.88, RRR: 12.00)
- Shadab Khan0 (1b)
- Asif Ali1 (1b)
- Naveen-ul-Haq3-0-22-1
- Rashid Khan4-0-26-2
Pravesh: "What an over by Naveen. Afghanistan's game now."
Shadab enters on strike.
Shoaib Malik c †Mohammad Shahzad b Naveen-ul-Haq 19 (21m 15b 1x4 1x6) SR: 126.66
Mansab Ali Shah: "Why Babar! Just WHY?!"
Sheikh Mudasir: "Babar seemed to be over-enthisiastic to hit Raashid out of the park, Penny wise and Pound foolish"
26 off 18 to win now. Asif Ali enters off strike. Naveen returns for the 18th.
END OF OVER:17 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 122/4 (26 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.17, RRR: 8.66)
- Shoaib Malik18 (11b)
- Rashid Khan4-0-26-2
- Karim Janat3-0-24-0
Babar Azam b Rashid Khan 51 (85m 47b 4x4 0x6) SR: 108.51