AFG vs PAK Highlights T20 World Cup 2021: Asif Ali blitz, Babar Azam's 50 take Pakistan to 5-wicket win vs Afghanistan

Pakistan have gone three in three and I am sure they are now hot favourites in most people's books, if not everyone's. They have seemed the most complete and balanced side so far in the tournament and are pretty much through to the semifinals. We had a great time bringing you the action. Thank you so much for joining us. Tomorrow, Ashes rivals England and Australia will battle in the "Ring of Fire" in Dubai. Expect that to be a cracker as well.

Until tomorrow, this is Shivansh Gupta bidding you goodnight. CIAO!

"We started well with the bowl, got a lot of wickets like we planned. Maybe gave away 10-15 runs too many at the end. With the bat, we couldn't capitalise the powerplay as we wanted to. At the end, with Malik and Asif Ali, we knew they could do the job. He (Asif Ali) is known for this and I was confident pre-tournament itself that he would deliver when needed."

"We didn't start well but the total on the board was a decent one for this pitch. We discussed that 150 would be a good score and so we dug deep. And then got some runs in the last few overs. I think three spinners are enough. Rashid bowled at the right time and we tried to take the game deep. Asif Ali played really well in the 19th over. Lot of positives from today's game. We fought really well till the end"

Asif Ali is the player of the match. At the post-match presentation ceremony, he says:

"I would like to congratulate Pakistani and all our fans. I was confident of finishing it off from this end and that's what I told Shoaib Malik before he got out. I look at the situation of the match, and I target the bowlers accordingly. I was talking to Shoaib when I walked in to bat and I told him that I was confident enough of getting 20-25 in one over against Karim Janat, which I did."

There was a time when teams would have pinch-hitters, a specialist position. However, that has become obsolete in this day of age where every batter and most bowlers can go big. But Asif Ali, for a second time running, has provided the picture-perfect finish

SIX! Full, into the slot and BAM! Asif Ali, the hero against NZ, is doing the job again. Goes big over long off

DOT

SIX! Asif Ali loves dealing in sixes and this is brilliant. Short from Janat and Asif Ali pulls it cooly for six.

DOT

SIX! THIS IS INCREDIBLE HITTING! Asif Ali has set Dubai on fire. The ring of fire is on fire. Once again, goes deep into his crease, clears the front leg and goes big over long off.

SIX! HE FINISHES IT OFF CARLOS BARTHWAITE STYLE! He goes over extra for six. Finishes on 25 off 7 balls.

Pakistan need 24 runs from 12 balls

Naveen-ul-Haq to bowl the 18th.

DROPPED! OUCH! Shoaib Malik absolutely clobbers the ball back towards Naveen and he does well to hold onto it. Then he calls for the physio. Just need to address the knock.

OUT! HE IS GONE AND THIS IS GAME ON! AFGHANISTAN BELIEVE! Wide and full from Naveen. Malik throws the kitchen sink at it but ends up nicking the ball to the keeper.

PAK are 124/5 after 18 overs

Asif Ali is the batter in. PAK need 26 from 18 balls.

Can these two finish another job?

Right! Final over from Rashid Khan

SIX! WHAT A SHOT! Shoaib Malik says there is no time to show respect to the dangerous Rashid. Instead, I will go down on one knee and muscle the ball over cow corner for an 82-m six. WOW!

DROPPED! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! A top edge from Babar and Naveen-ul-Haq, who took a beauty to remove Rizwan drops a sitter

GONE! BOWLED HIM! FOR SURE THIS TIME, BABAR IS OUT! After being dropped and saved by DRS, Babar eventually falls on 51 to Rashid Khan. Plays across the line and castled.

PAK are 122/4 after 17 overs.

FIFTY FOR BABAR AZAM! Another fine 50 from the skipper. Playing the perfect anchor's role. He truly has kept this chase alive

FOUR! Short and wide and Malik, makes room and cuts the ball behind point for 4.

PAK are 110/6 after 16 overs, need 38 off 24.

PAK need 47 from 30 balls with 7 wickets in hand

OUT! THAT'S THE 100TH T20I WICKET FOR RASHID KHAN. He becomes only the 4th bowler to achieve this feat and is the quickest to do so. Coming to the wicket, Rashid floats it up and and tempts Hafeez to go for a big hoick on one knee over long on but he ends up holing out to the fielder.

PAK are 97/3 after 14.1 overs.

Shoaib Malik is the new man in

Right, then! Nabi has decided to bowl himself out. Which means, that in the next 6 overs AFG will have to bowl 4 overs of pace and 2 overs of Rashid.

8 off it. PAK are 97/2 after 14 overs, need 51 from 36 balls

He is back for his second over. Rashid vs Babar will be exciting

FOUR! Unlucky for some, lucky for some. Nope, not no.13 (on this occasion) but the thick outside edge. The ball whizzes past the slip fielder and Azam survives yet again as the ball runs down for 4. 

PAK are 89/2 after 13 overs, need 59 to win from 82

Pakistan need 67 from 48 balls

Skipper Mohammad Nabi brings himself back on

HOW'S THAT? OUT! And this time, Zaman reviews. Zaman goes for the sweep but the flighted ball dies down on him sharply and ends up striking his chest. Umpire had given it out and it does look plumb. Ultra-edge shows there is no bat involved AND BALL TRACKING SHOWS 3 REDS! HE IS GONE for 30.

PAK are 75/2 after 11.1 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez is the next batter in.

FOUR! Hafeez guides the ball down to third man expertly and gets a boundary.

PAK are 81-2 after 12 overs

And there we have him, at last! Rashid Khan, world no.3 in the world in this format, is brought on

HOW'S THAT? OUT! BABAR REVIEWS The ball thuds into Babar's pads and the umpire took a long time to give his decision. Ultra-edge shows no bat. Ball-tracking shows the ball is missing the leg stump. REVIEW RETAINED AND BABAR SURVIVES

PAK are 75/1 after 11 overs

Pakistan need 76 from 60 balls and they have 9 wickets in hand

I am baffled by the fact that Rashid Khan is still not brought on. AFG don't have a lot to defend and they need their best bowler to make an impact

FOUR! That is class from Babar Azam. As easy as you like. Short from Janat and Babar uppercuts the ball past the third man fielder with ease for 4. 

PAK are 72/1 after 10 overs, need 76 from 60 balls

FOUR! A trademark Babar Azam flourish and you don't need to run for that. Full and wide from Naveen, the Pakistani skipper slashes it over point for 4.

FOUR! A late cut past short third man for 4. Babar looking more than comfortable

50-RUN STAND BETWEEN THE TWO OFF 39 BALLS

PAK are 62/1 after 9 overs.

Right-arm pacer Janat is brought into the attack and he gives away 5

PAK ARE 49/1 AFTER 7 overs

Mujeeb limps off. Bad news for AFG fans as Mujeeb seems to be struggling and is being accompanied into the dressing room by the physio

Zaman and Babar have done well to steady Pak's ship. Mujeeb bowls out, finishes with 1/14 in 4 overs

After 7 overs, PAK are 44/1

We now have pace for the first time in this innings

FOUR! Strays down Fakhar's pads and he nonchalantly flicks it past short fine leg for 4. 
PAK are 38/1 by the end of the Powerplay