A euphoric Afghanistan team did a lap of honour to acknowledge the support of the crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and then performed 'lungi dance' onboard the team bus on their way back to the hotel after a famous victory over Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2023 on Monday.
The Afghans put up a clinical show to first limit Pakistan to under 300 and then chase down the target of 283 with precision for an emphatic eight-wicket win, which is their first ever over Pakistan after seven defeats. And it was celebration unlimited once the famous Bollywood number 'Lungi Dance' was played on the Afghanistan team bus.
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Led first by teenage spinner Noor Ahmad's spell of 3/49 and then a half-century each from the top three batsmen, Afghanistan scripted their second big upset of the tournament, having beaten the defending champions England earlier.
It was Pakistan's third straight defeat after opening the tournament with two consecutive wins.
The win moved Afghanistan to No. 6 on the points table with two wins in five matches, while Pakistan stayed No. 5 with the same results and points, ahead on net run rate.
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) and Ibrahim Zadran (87), who was adjudged 'Player of the Match', gave a rollicking start to the Afghan run-chase by puting up a big partnership of 130 runs.
Rahmat Shah, batting at No. 3, ensured that the momentum was not lost and stayed unbeaten through the end at 77. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi played an equally important knock of 47 not out in an undefeated partnership of 96 runs with Shah.
