Watch: Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan the ideal start in their defence of what seemed a sub-par score of 201, taking two wickets in two balls in just his second over to push Afghanistan on the backfoot yesterday (August 22) in the first ODI of the three-match series.

Pakistan were bowled out for 201 after winning the toss and batting first at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota yesterday (August 22), thanks largely to a combined effort by the three Afghanistan spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi, who shared seven wickets among them.

Mujeeb was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets, while Rashid and Nabi took two each. Imam-ul Haq top-scored for Pakistan with 61. At the halfway stage, Afghanistan would have been hopeful of scripting a first-ever victory over Pakistan in ODIs, but their hopes fell flat as Afridi wrecked their top order early into the chase, as he has made a reputation of doing.

He first removed Ibrahim Zadran on the fourth ball of his second over – the third of the innings – with a bouncer that was too quick to handle for the latter. Zadran went for the pull but only managed to get it off the splice of the bat to hand an easy catch to mid-wicket.

Rahmat Shah then followed the very next ball, flicking an inswinging full toss on the stumps straight to short mid-wicket. While the wicket came off a full toss and had an element of luck to it, the late shape that Afridi got on the ball also played a part as Rahmat lost his balance and wasn’t able to control the flick shot.

Afridi’s wickets opened the floodgates as the Afghan batters kept falling like ninepins, eventually getting all out for their second-lowest ODI total of 59.

Watch Shaheen Afridi take two wickets in two balls to kickstart Afghanistan’s historic collapse:

Here’s how @iShaheenAfridi bounced out @IZadran18 early in the 2nd inning. #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #SuperColaCup | #ByaMaidanGato pic.twitter.com/QdC0bteJRu

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 22, 2023

Not a good start for Afghanistan as @iShaheenAfridi gets two in two! #AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #SuperColaCup | #ByaMaidanGato pic.twitter.com/rWYP6J1sUp

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) August 22, 2023

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