Fareed, Qais, Zahir take down Pakistan to set up gold-medal match with India

Fareed Ahmad, Qais Ahmad and Zahir Khan shared seven wickets to skittle out Pakistan for 115 before Gulbadin Naib finished the chase that Noor Ali Zadran had set with a steady knock. Afghanistan will now face India in the gold-medal match.

After being sent in, Pakistan were 44 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. Fareed removed Rohail Nazir in the seventh over before the two wrist spinners, Qais and Zahir, worked their magic. As a result, Pakistan slid from 49 for 1 to 83 for 7. Arafat Minhas and Aamer Jamal helped them cross the 100-run mark by adding 26 off 21 balls for the eighth wicket before they lost the final three wickets in a space of six runs. Fareed picked up two of those.

In reply, Afghanistan lost three wickets inside the powerplay but Noor kept them going. He found an ally in Afsar Zazai with whom he added 36 off 44 for the fourth wicket. But Noor then skied one to short fine leg off Sufiyan Muqeem before Usman Oadir struck two quick blows to reduce Afghanistan to 84 for 6.

But captain Naib smacked three sixes and a four to ensure there were no further hiccups, finishing unbeaten on 26 off 19 to take Afghanistan home with 13 balls to spare.

Brief scores:
Afghanistan 116 for 6 (Noor Ali Zadran 39, Gulbadin Naib 26*; Arafat Minhas 2-11, Usman Qadir 2-20) beat Pakistan 115 in 18 overs (Omair Yousuf 24; Fareed Ahmad 3-15, Qais Ahmad 2-11, Zahir Khan 2-20) by four wickets