09:04 (IST), Jun 14
On the hunt for their third win, Afghanistan started off cautiously with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran sizing up the conditions. Gurbaz didn’t let the loose deliveries go unpunished, finding a boundary and a six, but Zadran fell cheaply for a duck. Gurbaz too departed soon after trying to be extra aggressive, leaving Afghanistan struggling early at 11/2. However, Gulbadin Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai steadied the ship with a crucial partnership, ensuring the required rate never became a burden. Azmatullah Omarzai, after a sedate 13 perished but Gulbadin Naib held his end well staying unbeaten on 49, and with Mohammad Nabi’s contribution of 16 runs, they cruised through comfortably in the end.