Pakistan achieved a competitive total of 282/7 in their ICC World Cup face-off against Afghanistan on Monday in Chennai.
In a match featuring Afghanistan's four genuine spinners, Pakistan navigated their innings with caution, as five of their seven wickets fell to the spinners.
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Eighteen-year-old spinner Noor Ahmed shone for Afghanistan, securing three crucial wickets in his debut World Cup match.
Pakistan effectively thwarted Rashid Khan, who remained wicketless, conceding 41 runs in his 10 overs. Similarly, Mujeeb Ur Rahman went without a wicket, giving away 55 runs in his eight overs.
Abdullah Shafique showcased his prowess on the grand stage, contributing a solid 58, while his opening partner notched 17.
Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, led by example with a composed 74 off 92 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed's explosive 27-ball 40, featuring four sixes and two fours, propelled Pakistan beyond the 280-mark.
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Both teams entered this match with a thirst for victory, having suffered defeats in their previous encounters in the World Cup. Afghanistan currently occupies the bottom rung of the points table among ten teams, while Pakistan holds the fifth spot. A loss in this match would significantly diminish Afghanistan's chances of progressing to the next phase of the World Cup. Conversely, a Pakistan loss would leave a slim margin for error in their campaign.