Afghanistan v Pakistan 2023

Watch: Haris Rauf sweeps away lower order with fiery maiden ODI five-for, Afghanistan succumb to 59 all out in record low

by Wisden Staff August 22, 2023 - 5:13pm 3 minute read

Watch: Afghanistan were bowled out for 59 by Pakistan today (August 22), as Haris Rauf claimed a destructive maiden ODI five-wicket-haul.

Rauf was brought into the attack when Afghanistan had already slipped to 18-3 in the powerplay, thanks in main part to a double strike in consecutive balls from Shaheen Shah Afridi. Continuing the collapse, Rauf struck with his first ball, beating Ikram Alikhil for pace with a back-of-a-length delivery which took his inside edge. Mohammad Nabi played out five dots from the remainder of the over to give Rauf a wicket-maiden.

Another maiden followed from Rauf before he conceded his first run of the game from his 14th delivery. Into his fourth over, he found a touch of outswing to push a length ball past Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the ball finding the finest of edges on the way through.

Having produced two beauties for his first strikes, Mohammad Nabi was Rauf’s next victim, falling to a softer shot. He tried to loft a shorter ball from Rauf into the off side but jabbed it straight to Agha Salman at short cover.

Rashid Khan became Rauf’s fourth victim just two balls later. The pick of Rauf’s wickets, he produced a ripper which pitched on a length around off stump and straightened, beating Rashid’s outside edge and clipping the stumps.

Afghanistan continued to collapse and were eight wickets down with Azmatullah Omarzai having retired hurt when Rauf took the final wicket to complete his five. Mujeeb Ur Rahman tried to heave into the leg side but mistimed the delivery to give an easy catch to Naseem Shah at mid-on.

Rauf finished with figures of 5-18 from 6.2 overs. Afghanistan were all-out for 59, their second-lowest ODI total ever in men’s ODIs and the lowest total ever for any team against Pakistan in men’s ODIs.