Afghanistan Premier League 2018, Semi-final 2- Paktia Panthers v Kabul Zwanan Live Score, Commentary and Updates cricket

Thanks for joining us! Hope you enjoyed all the action from Sharjah. Do tune into Sportskeeda on Sunday for the 2018 APL final between Balkh Legends and Kabul Zwanan.

Rashid Khan is Player of the Match

The 20-year old has truly led from the front. After swelling Kabul's total by taking Isuru Udana to the cleaners in the last over, he ripped the heart out of Paktia's run-chase with a four-wicket haul. The stunning catch along the deep mid-wicket boundary was just the cherry on top.

Paktia Panthers will be extremely disappointed with their abject display. They squandered an opportunity to limit Kabul by dropping Rashid Khan in the penultimate over. While chasing such a steep target in a knockout match was always going to be tough, their batsmen did themselves no favours by playing far too many rash shots.

On the other hand, Kabul Zwanan will march into the final with supreme confidence. Having won a handy toss and put a formidable total on board, their bowlers got to work and razed Paktia in a ruthless manner.

Kabul Zwanan win by 90 runs

Prior to this match, Rashid Khan had to endure an unusually quiet tournament with just five wickets and 135 runs from seven matches. This all-round performance should consign all those doubts to oblivion. He has followed up a pivotal 19-ball 35 with a haul of 4/20 as well as a truly breathtaking catch.

Paktia Panthers 102 all out in 14.5 overs

Rashid Khan ends the match! Fittingly, the skipper takes the final wicket to seal a massive victory for Kabul Zwanan. A well-deserved four-wicket haul for the leg-spinner.

The Panthers somehow manage to crawl past the 100-run mark. Alas, it does not mean much aside from reducing the margin of defeat.

Third wicket for Rashid! The star wrist-spinner outclasses Isuru Udana with a well-disguised googly. Up against a lower-order batsman, all he has to do is to be on target.

Paktia Panthers 91/9 in 13 overs

Stunning catch from Rashid Khan! This man is on a roll. Runs, wickets and now a breathtaking catch. Ran like a hare, made good ground and dived low to his right. Upon encircling his hands on the ball, he has the awareness to ensure that it does not bobble out.

Paktia Panthers 84/8 in 12 overs

Shahid Afridi - Six and Out! How often have we seen this from the hard-hitting all-rounder! After launching Muslim Musa into the stands for a colossal maximum, the 38-year old miscues a slog and Laurie Evans settles underneath the skier. That could be it for Paktia.

At the half-way mark, Kabul Zwanan have the Panthers on the mat. 129 runs are needed from the last 60 balls.

Paktia lose their sixth! Shahidullah Kamal cleans up Tahir Khan with an arm-ball. The right-hander has no clue whatsoever and ends up playing all around one drifting into him.

Paktia Panthers 64/6 in 10 overs

Whatever Rashid Khan's touching is turning into gold! After smacking a quickfire 35, he picks two wickets in two balls. Strangely, the skipper removes himself from the attack. But his replacement strikes on his own.

MacLeod is dismissed! Muslim Musa replaces skipper Rashid and does not take long to make an impact. With the required run-rate climbing rapidly, the right-hander has no choice but to take a chance. Unfortunately for him and Paktia, he only finds Colin Ingram at deep mid-wicket.

MacLeod reverse-sweeps Rashid for a boundary. After watching his teammates flounder badly against the leg-spinner in the previous over, this is highly brave and adventurous from the man from Scotland.

Paktia Panthers 40/4 in 7 overs

An eventful Power Play comes to a close. Fareed Ahmad almost delivers a maiden over. However, Calum MacLeod somehow manages to steal a single off the last ball. To put things into perspective, Paktia require 161 runs from 84 balls. That's how far Kabul are ahead at the moment.

Paktia Panthers 32/4 in 6 overs

Two wickets and two singles from Rashid's opening over. The 20-year old is threatening to run away with the game. Can Paktia respond in kind? They desperately need an Afridi special.

Shahid Afridi prevents the hat-trick! Rashid Khan sends in a quicker and flatter one to turn a fraction away from the senior right-hander. The Afghanistan star is up against his idol from Pakistan. This could be a very interesting face-off.

Paktia Panthers 31/4 in 5 overs

Rashid's on a hat-trick! Back to back wickets for the Kabul skipper. Delivers another googly and strikes Samiullah Shenwari in front.

Rashid Khan strikes from his very first ball! Upon seeing Rahmanullah Gurbaz getting into position to sweep, the star leg-spinner weaves a googly and traps him in front. The umpire raises his finger slowly but surely.

Delport departs! Cameron brings the run-chase back on track by hammering consecutive sixes off Javed Ahmadi. But the part-time off-spinner extracts revenge by getting the left-hander caught in the deep off the penultimate ball. Rashid Khan's bold captaincy pays dividends in the end.

Paktia Panthers 29/2 in 4 overs

Another impressive over from Wayne Parnell. After being consistently expensive during the group stage matches, the South African seamer is turning up when it really matters. He has conceded just ten runs from his first two overs.

Paktia Panthers 15/1 in 3 overs

Just five singles from the second over. Fareed Ahmad maintains the pressure created at the other end by his new-ball partner.

Paktia Panthers 7/1 in 2 overs

Shahzad falls! A nothing ball from Wayne Parnell. Sits up nicely but the Paktia skipper somehow manages to find the only fielder stationed on the leg-side boundary with almost pin-point precision. What a start for Kabul!

Paktia Panthers 2/1 in 1 over

Mohammad Shahzad and Cameron Delport will open the batting for Paktia Panthers. Wayne Parnell to open the proceedings with the ball.

Colin Ingram and Laurie Evans set the platform with impactful knocks in the middle-order. When it seemed as if Paktia would finish on a high by razing through the lower-order, Rashid Khan led from the front and lifted Kabul Zwanan to a formidable total. The all-rounder remained unbeaten on 35 from 19. How crucial will those runs be in the context of the game? Stay tuned for the run-chase.

Kabul Zwanan 192/9 in 20 overs

Three sixes from Rashid Khan! The Kabul Zwanan captain adds another crucial cameo with the bat. He ends the innings on a flourish by hammering Isuru Udana for 20 runs in an expensive final over.

Can Rashid Khan make Paktia pay for the dropped catch? A few lusty blows from the last over could propel Kabul to a healthier total.

Rashid gets a reprieve! The Kabul skipper mistimes a pull shot. Despite covering considerable ground, Samiullah Shenwari does not manage to hang on to the catch. However, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi takes matters into his own hands and cleans up Muslim Musa before dismissing Fareed Ahmad for a golden duck.

Kabul Zwanan 172/9 in 19 overs

19 runs from the over! Muslim Musa enters the frame and makes an impact straightaway. The lower-order batsman hammers a six and a four off consecutive balls.

Kabul Zwanan 169/7 in 18 overs

Udana strikes! After starting the over with a six, the left-arm seamer rebounds immediately to remove Laurie Evans. A quicker and fuller delivery way outside the off-stump. The batsman reaches for it and ends up slicing a catch to deep backward point.

Isuru Udana is back into the attack for a death overs spell. A key phase in the match as Paktia look for a late breakthrough.

Ten runs from the Ziaur Rahman over. As many as three wides spoils what could have otherwise been a relatively tidy over.

Kabul Zwanan 150/6 in 17 overs

Four overs remaining in the innings. Ten runs an over will take Kabul to 180. Can Rashid Khan conjure a special effort with the bat?

Kabul Zwanan 140/6 in 16 overs

Shahid Afridi today - 2/25 from 4 overs. Exactly what the doctor ordered for Paktia Panthers.

Lightning-quick stumping by Shahzad! After missing a run-out opportunity off the previous ball, the Paktia gloveman redeems himself by effecting a stunning stumping to dismiss Shahidullah. Second wicket for Afridi.

Kabul Zwanan 127/6 in 15 overs

Afridi removes Ingram! Not the greatest of deliveries from the wily leg-spinner. Upon seeing a rare long hop from Afridi, the southpaw gets carried away and top-edges a catch to deep square leg. He has to walk back for a well-made 44 from 27.

Kabul Zwanan 117/5 in 13 overs

Ingram on the charge! The South African left-hander nonchalantly sweeps Tahir Khan into the stands for a huge maximum.

Kabul Zwanan 111/4 in 12 overs

Ingram innovates impressively! Follows a customized version of reverse-sweep with a conventional sweep. The left-hander picks up back to back boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving.

Kabul Zwanan 98/4 in 11 overs

Javed Ahmadi's run out! Catastrophic miscommunication between him and Colin Ingram. Cameron Delport's accurate throw helps Afridi rattle the stumps at the non-striker's end. Ingram regroups quickly and ends the over with a flat six.

Kabul Zwanan 87/4 in 10 overs

Javed Ahmadi releases the pressure with a mammoth slog-sweep six. Kabul badly needed that maximum to get a move on in the middle-overs.

Four singles and a boundary from Afridi's first over. A decent start from the iconic Pakistani leg-spinner. The Panthers could do with a typically tight spell from the veteran.

Kabul Zwanan 69/3 in 8 overs

Shahid Afridi into the attack

A productive over from Tahir Khan. Helps Paktia see the back of the dangerous Zazai and also concedes just six runs off it.

Kabul Zwanan 61/3 in 7 overs

Hazratullah Zazai departs! The aggressive southpaw flays a full delivery straight into the hands of long-on. Off-spinner Tahir Khan strikes from his very first delivery.

Another tight over from Omarzai to bring an action-packed Power Play to an end. Have to say Paktia appear better placed at the moment.

Kabul Zwanan 55/2 in 6 overs

Fascinating ploy from the Panthers to tackle Hazratullah. Their seamers are using the short ball on a regular basis. However, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi ends up conceding a no-ball for height. Fortunately for Paktia, Zazai does not make them pay off the free hit.

Kabul Zwanan 47/2 in 5 overs

Excellent over from Omarzai! Aside from picking a wicket, the medium pacer gives away only a boundary and a single. Paktia skipper Mohammad Shahzad's interesting captaincy gets rewarded instantly.

Kabul Zwanan 34/2 in 4 overs

Parnell holes out! Azmatullah Omarzai replaces Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and strikes immediately. Kabul's decision to promote the South African pacer to number three does not work this time around. Some scrutiny over MacLeod's catch. But the third umpire upholds the soft signal.

Just four runs and an early breakthrough in the over. Udana extends his impressive form from the group stage into the high-pressure semi-final.

Kabul Zwanan 29/1 in 3 overs