PAK vs AFG

Afghanistan 116/6 in 17.5 overs
Noor Ali Zadran 39(33) | Arafat Minhas 2/11
Gulbadin Naib 26*(19) | Usman Qadir 2/20

Unreal SCENES here at the Asian Games semifinal as the Afghans have beaten their arch rivals, the Pakistanis and they've booked their spot in the final here. It was a nerve wrecking contest with the pendulum swinging from one end to the other but in the end, it's Afghanistan who have held their nerves and have progressed into the final. They will be taking on India in the final while Pakistan will face off against Bangladesh in the Bronze medal match. 

They came out with an aggressive approach but they lost some early wickets in the powerplay. Noor Ali Zadran though played an pivotal knock at that stage as he took the total to a stage from where a victory was possible for them. He copped a few on the body but kept batting as he top scored with 39. There were some nerves in the middle overs as they lost a heap of wickets in quick succession. 

Skipper Gulbadin Naib, came to the rescue for them as he forged a critical partnership with Ashraf. He took his time early on against the spinners and when the seamer Jamal came in, he unleashed himself and finished off the job in just one over. It was a really close game but in the end, Naib took his team comfortably over the line. 

The Pakistani spinners did really well as they choked the flow of runs and picked up key wickets. Minhas picked up a couple of wickets and then it was Usman Qadir, the leg spinner who turned the game on it's head as her ran through the middle order. He finished his spell with a tidy over and Afghanistan needed 24 from three overs at that stage. However, Pakistan made a tactical error as they went back to the seamer Jamal and he lost his nerves at the back end. Gulbadin Naib was waiting for it and he picked up 24 runs in that over itself. 

17.5 Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! AFGHANISTAN WIN THIS GAME AND WILL NOW MEET INDIA IN THE FINAL! Gulbadin Naib plays a captain's knock. Short of a length outside off, comes back in a tad. Naib pulls it straight towards deep midwicket, where the fielder fumbles with it and allows the ball to go for a boundary! The game is over now. Pakistan have been knocked out of the tournament in the semis. Sadly, there will not be an India-Pakistan final in the Asian Games. Afghanistan will, instead, take on the highly favoured Indian team in the gold medal game tomorrow! By this way, Afghanistan have also assured themselves of a medal.

Surely that's the game for Afghanistan!! It was in the slot and Naib has connected that one really well. It's the second SIX of the over and Jamal is going the distance here. 

17.4 Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, SIX! BOOM! Fullish on middle and leg, comes back in. Naib hangs back and manages to heave it away over deep square leg for a hugeeeeeee hit!

17.3 Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, MISSES THE FREE HIT! At a length outside off, moves away. Naib looks to pull it away over midwicket but misses out.

17.3 Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, SIX THIS TIME! No ball as well. Short of a length outside off, sits up nicely. Naib pulls it away wide of the fielder at deep midwicket for a boundary!

17.2 Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, FOUR! He worked that one really fine. Short of a length on middle and leg. Naib manages to tuck it away wide of the fielder at short fine leg for a boundary!

Jamal has used the bouncer to good effect in this game and he has hit the batters on the body. Naib has copped a blow while trying to hit that one out of the ground. 

17.1 Aamer Jamal to Gulbadin Naib, short of a length on off and middle, rises well. Naib looks to pull it away but cannot quite connect too well!

Aamer Jamal [2.0-0-10-0] comes back into the attack. 

Usman Qadir holds his nerve and bowls an outstanding over there. The runs have dried up for Afghanistan now and they will need to get another 23 runs from the final three overs of this game.