Pakistan, 2-0 up in the three-match series, will take on Afghanistan in the final ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Here’s the live score of the third ODI, along with updated scorecard, match statistics, playing XIs, toss updates and more.
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Afghanistan v Pakistan
Third ODI, August 26, 2023
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
3pm local time
AFG vs PAK, third ODI: Toss
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat.
AFG vs PAK, third ODI: Live score
AFG vs PAK: How the first two ODIs went
Pakistan currently lead the series 2-0, having won the first ODI by 142 runs, and the second, by one wicket. The second ODI was decided with a thrilling penultimate ball win for Pakistan, with Naseem Shah, their No.10, hitting the winning runs with one wicket to spare.
In the first ODI, Afghanistan did well to restrict Pakistan to 201, but were blown away by their pace attack, succumbing to 59 all out, the lowest total ever by a team against Pakistan.
In the second game, Afghanistan put on a much better batting show, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (151) and Ibrahim Zadran (80) putting on a 227-run opening stand. Pakistan pulled things back after that, restricting them to 300-5. Fifties by Imam-ul-Haq and then Babar Azam took them close to the target, after which a 35-ball 48 by Shadab Khan nearly sealed the game. The final moments of the game were particularly controversial, with Farooqi running out Shadab pre-delivery at the non-striker’s end.
Team update: Azmat Omarzay has been ruled out, with Gulbadin Naib replacing him for the third ODI.
🚨 Squad Alert 🚨
Afghanistan all-rounder @AzmatOmarzay has been ruled out of the 3rd #AFGvPAK #SuperColaCup ODI after sustaining a side strain. He has been replaced by another all-rounder @GBNaib.
Wish you recover soon, Azmat! 🤲#AfghanAtalan | #ByaMaidanGato pic.twitter.com/iZFRjr0tOs
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 26, 2023
Afghanistan v Pakistan: Playing XIs
Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Gulbadin Naib, Riaz Hassan, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr
Match prediction
Pakistan definitely hold the edge, having produced a convincing bowling effort in the first ODI and holding their nerve in the second. Afghanistan will definitely push them, but it seems likely that Pakistan will prevail, clearing their path to be the No.1 ODI team in the world.
