‘Never write off Pakistan’ – Naseem Shah does it again, breaks Afghanistan’s hearts in one-wicket heist

Social media was abuzz with reactions to Naseem Shah clinching a last-over-thriller against Afghanistan in the second ODI in Hambantota. The tailender hit the winning runs with a ball to spare, ensuring Pakistan’s victory in the three-match ODI series.

Afghanistan must be gutted as they were forced to relive the horrors of the 2022 Asia Cup. Back then, Shah hit Fareed Malik for two sixes in the last over en route to his unbeaten knock of 14 off four balls, taking Pakistan over the line. Cut to today, he replicated something similar with an unbeaten 10 off 5 deliveries, rekindling the memories from last year’s nail-biter.

The winning shot saw Pakistan’s dressing room break into roaring celebrations along with an overjoyed Shah, who threw his helmet, bat and gloves to the ground, a scene reminiscent of his 2022 heroics against the same opponent.

There were plenty of reactions from the cricketing fraternity on social media regarding this neck-and-neck battle which had its ebbs and flows:

NEVER WRITE OFF PAKISTAN CRICKET! DELETE YOUR TWEETS FROM YOUR DRAFTS NOW! WE HAVE NASEEM SHAH 🔥🔥🔥 #AFGvPAK pic.twitter.com/3WQKlaKV42

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) August 24, 2023

The last over by left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was nothing short of a drama. He ran out (infamously called Mankading) Shadab Khan at the non-striker’s end while the all-rounder tried to take undue advantage of completing a run without letting Farooqi release the ball. Khan’s departure with a 35-ball 48 virtually nullified Pakistan’s chances, but Shah had other plans. An X user quoted a commentator’s view during the live match on the micro-blogging platform.

Commentator:

“I don’t have a problem with Mankad but why don’t teams do it in 5th or 6th over of the game but only at the end? It’s just panic and they do it when they think it’s the only way to win the game.”.#AFGvPAK

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) August 24, 2023

Afghanistan can look for a moral victory in a dead rubber on August 26 before locking horns against each other in upcoming big-ticket encounters like the 2023 Asia Cup and 2023 ODI World Cup. Many hailed the rise of the clashes between the two nemeses among the mother of all encounters.

This AFG vs PAK rivalry pot is boiling. cracker of a game and Pakistan have again snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Afghanistan. What a thriller of a game, and what a brilliant finish by Naseem Shah. 🔥🔥🙌🏻 Bring on the #AsiaCup and let it boil over. 🤪 #AFGvsPAK

— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima) August 24, 2023

Pakistan vs Afghanistan is at Chennai. It’s going to be too entertaining. 😭 Time to book tickets for that game tomorrow.

— Manya (@CSKian716) August 24, 2023

Best rivalry in cricket: Pakistan vs Afghanistan > India vs Pakistan > Ashes.

— Dr. Rantas (@_babydoctor) August 24, 2023

Naseem takes Pakistan over the line vs Afghanistan, in dramatic fashion, scoring the winning runs off Fazalhaq Farooqui.

Scenes that are all too familiar. Scenes that we absolutely relish.

*Throws gloves to the ground with full force*

— Behram Qazi 🇵🇰 🇨🇦 (@DeafMango) August 24, 2023

Another user put up a cheeky post terming the last-over run out as a tribute to Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma on her birthday. In an ODI against England in 2022, which was also Jhulan Goswami’s final match of her career, Sharma dismissed Charlie Dean in a similar way.