Azam leads Pakistan to 282-7 as Afghanistan's teenage leg-spinner shines / Photo: R.Satish BABU - AFP
-
Bolsonaro's escape to the US: How it happened
-
Hollywood producer Kennedy to head LA28 Olympic ceremony plans
-
Russell calls on Scotland to 'kick on' and beat big teams
-
Djokovic wins Basel opener to boost ATP Finals bid
-
Airbus aims for record deliveries despite disappointing quarter
-
US Fed holds interest rates steady despite surging inflation
-
Cuba wins UN vote against US embargo with weakest backing in 30 years
-
Chiefs sign ex-Ravens kicker suspended over sex allegations
-
Real Madrid, La Liga apology over Mbappe shows power of Chinese market
-
Inglis and Carey put Australia in command of South Africa decider
-
From Gaza to Ramallah, Palestinians see little hope in Israeli vote
-
92-year-old US judge handling Maduro case dies
-
US labor leader Dolores Huerta dead: family
-
Perez extends Cadillac deal to 2029
-
Investors turn cautious ahead of tech results, Fed update on rates
-
Arab Israelis proud of high election turnout, uncertain for future
-
'Cruise for life' strands passengers in Cambodia as operator goes bust
-
Inglis, Carey put Australia in command of South Africa decider
-
Bolsonaro flees Brazil for US after election defeat
-
French firm Safran helps build aircraft wings of the future in UK factory
-
A throne on wheels, popemobiles star in new Vatican show
-
Ceasefire in Russia-occupied Ukrainian city holds for second day
-
Spain high-speed train crash kills 68, injures over 100
-
Canada hikes rates to contain oil price surge caused by Iran war
-
UK woman drugged by husband tells rape trial she woke up bound
-
World Bank warns of worsening food insecurity as commodity prices soar
-
Clean-up starts as Serbian students movement prepares to govern
-
Mona Lisa scrubbed from Syrian textbooks as critics slam conservative drift
-
Flavio Bolsonaro: right-wing heir falls from presidential hopeful to exile
-
Bolsonaro flees Brazil for US after election defeat: AFP
-
UK budget lifts bank tax to offset surging energy bills
-
Brazil's Bolsonaros: between power, prison, and exile
-
Spain high-speed train collision kills 64, injures over 100
-
Israel president urges against new vote despite inconclusive result
-
Brazil's Bolsonaro lands in Florida after election defeat: AFP
-
Eala recovers to move into Tokyo quarter-finals
-
Russia woos African leaders at Moscow summit
-
COPs 'bunch of baloney' says Panama as it vies to host nature summit
-
Local ceasefire in Russia-occupied Ukrainian city holds for second day
-
Denmark mulls banning turbo chickens
-
Odegaard urges Arsenal to move on after Fleetwood upset
-
Nintendo producer 'all nervous' as Zelda classic remake hits shelves
-
Japan, Germany leaders target closer ties on critical minerals
-
Israeli Arab parties hold key as Netanyahu falls short of majority
-
Spain high-speed train collision kills 31, injures 80
-
UK comedian Brand tells rape trial 'consent is fundamental'
-
Turkey hosted Libya east-west reunification talks last week
-
Shadman guides Bangladesh to 213-3 in West Indies Test
-
Spain high-speed train collision kills 30
-
Tech optimism lifts stocks ahead of Fed update on rates
Azam leads Pakistan to 282-7 as Afghanistan's teenage leg-spinner shines
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam hit a stylish half century to guide his team to a fighting 282-7 in their World Cup match against Afghanistan in Chennai on Monday.
Azam's 92-ball 74 was ably supported by opener Abdullah Shafique's 75-ball 58 while Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed then scored a valuable 40 runs apiece.
On a spin-friendly Chidambaram Stadium pitch, Afghanistan fielded four slow bowlers with 18-year-old left-armer Noor Ahmad grabbing a career best 3-49 on his World Cup debut.
Shadab added a rapid 73 runs with Iftikhar for the sixth wicket as Pakistan added 61 in the last five overs, with Shadab falling off the last delivery.
Iftikhar cracked four sixes and two boundaries while Shadab's innings featured a six and a four.
Pakistan enjoyed a strong start with a 56-run stand before Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for 17 in the 11th over.
Ahmad struck his first blow when he trapped opener Abdullah Shafique for 58 in the 23rd over.
Shafique hit two sixes and five boundaries in his third half century of the World Cup.
Ahmad then dismissed Pakistan's top scorer in the World Cup Mohammad Rizwan, caught sweeping in his next over to leave Pakistan on 120-3.
Azam also fell to Ahmad when the Pakistan skipper played a tennis-like shot to a delivery that was seemingly out of his reach, ending up straight into the hands of Mohammad Nabi at extra cover.
Azam hit four boundaries and a six and added 43 with Saud Shakeel who made 25.
Afghan spinner Rashid Khan went wicket-less in his ten overs, conceding 41 runs while pacer Naveen-ul-Haq took 2-52.
Afghanistan's highest successful ODI chase is the 274 they achieved against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai nine years ago.
Pakistan brought in Shadab in place of Mohammad Nawaz who went down with a fever on the morning of the game while Ahmad came for Afghanistan in place of fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Pakistan went into the game with two wins and two defeats from four matches while Afghanistan had win against three losses.
Brief scores: Pakistan 282-7 in 50 overs (Babar Azam 74, Abdullah Shafique 58, Shadab Khan 40, Iftikhar Ahmed 40; Noor Ahmad 3-49)
A.Rodriguezv--AMWN