{ "id": "128001", "author": "26", "cnmid": null, "title": "Pakistan Whitewash Afghanistan 3-0 To Top ODI Rankings", "lang": "en", "series": "556", "cup_year": "2023", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Pakistan rose to the top of the one-day international rankings with a 59-run win against Afghanistan in the third and final match in Colombo on Saturday, claiming a 3-0 series whitewash. SCORECARD Pak", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

Pakistan rose to the top of the one-day international rankings with a 59-run win against Afghanistan in the third and final match in Colombo on Saturday, claiming a 3-0 series whitewash. SCORECARD<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan were helped to 268-8 in 50 overs by a solid 79-ball 67 from Mohammad Rizwan and an 86-ball innings of 60 from skipper Babar Azam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

They then dismissed their opponents for 209 in 48.4 overs with number nine Mujeeb Ur Rahman top-scoring for Afghanistan with a 37-ball 64 for his maiden half century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rahman smashed five sixes and as many boundaries, racing to a new Afghan record for the fastest ODI fifty off just 26 balls before he stepped on to his stump and was out hit wicket off Shaheen Shah Afridi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rashid Khan was the previous record holder for Afghanistan with a 27-ball fifty against Ireland in Abu Dhabi last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rahman and Shahidullah Kamal (37 off 65 balls) shared a valiant stand of 57 for the eighth wicket to give some respectability to the total after their team were reeling at 97-7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rahman also added 45 for the ninth wicket with Fareed Ahmad Malik who scored 17.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan won the first match by 142 runs and by one wicket in the second -- both games played in Hambantota.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan had been at number two in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings before the series but the 3-0 triumph lifted them above Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan were briefly number one earlier this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan medium pacer Faheem Ashraf removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made a century in the last game, for five and Ibrahim Zadran for an 11-ball duck to finish with 2-43.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan rested frontline bowlers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah in four changes but they were still good enough with the ball as spinners Shadab Khan (3-42) and Mohammad Nawaz (2-45) shared five wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Yes, we are number one," said Azam, who is also the number one batsman in the ODI rankings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"All credit to boys. We have worked hard for the last of couple of months and it has taken us to this point, so I am really happy."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted his team was not up to the mark.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"We didn't apply ourselves," said Shahidi. "We are disappointed with the performance but there is a lot of learning."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

It was Rizwan and Azam who anchored Pakistan's innings after they won the toss and batted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Rizwan hit six boundaries and a six while Azam knocked four boundaries and a six to help Pakistan to a fighting total.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Rizwan-Azam pair added 110 runs for the third wicket to steady the innings after pacer Gulbadin Naib removed openers Fakhar Zaman (27) and Imam-ul-Haq (13).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan stuttered in the middle overs with four wickets lost for the addition of just 27 runs, including Azam's wicket who scored his 28th half century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Saud Shakeel was run out for nine and Shadab for just three as Pakistan were struggling at 189-6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Agha Salman (38 not out) and Nawaz (30) added 61 for the seventh wicket as Pakistan added 80 in the last ten overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Salman hit four boundaries and a six in his 31-ball quickfire knock.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Naib was the pick of Afghanistan bowlers with 2-36.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/b> Cricket History<\/a><\/p>

The two teams will now feature in the six-nation Asia Cup starting in Multan from August 30.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Pakistan-vs-Afghanistan-third-ODI.jpg", "alt_img": "Pakistan vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI", "alt_title": "Babar Azam", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Pakistan Whitewash Afghanistan 3-0 To Top ODI Rankings On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Pakistan rose to the top of the one-day international rankings with a 59-run win against Afghanistan in the third and final match in Colombo on Saturday, claiming a 3-0 series whitewash. ", "seo_keywords": " Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, ICC ODI Rankings, Pakistan Vs Afghanistan", "tag": null, "tagging": "Pakistan Vs Afghanistan, ICC Rankings, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "pakistan-beat-afghanistan-by-59-runs-in-third-odi", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "1741", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2023-08-27 08:21:11", "updated": "2023-08-27 08:21:11", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Pakistan Vs Afghanistan, ICC Rankings, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2023-08-27 08:21:11", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/pakistan-beat-afghanistan-by-59-runs-in-third-odi-128001" }