Pakistan are chasing a 228-run target that would keep their semi-final hopes alive and inflict an eighth straight defeat on Afghanistan. The Green Shirts did not start their innings well, with opener Fakhar Zaman flopping again, this time not even contributing a single run as he was trapped lbw. Babar Azam and Imamul Haq stabilised the ship and just when it seemed they were running away with the match, off-spinner Mohammad Nabi removed both in back-to-back overs. Earlier, Pakistan rode another superb Shaheen Shah Afridi performance to restrict the Afghans to 2279. Afridi struck in his very first over to remove captain Gulbadin Naib and the incoming Hashmatullah Shahidi off two successive deliveries to stem a quick start, after Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat against Pakistan in the 36th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday. The sudden double blows left Afghanistan two down for 27 in the fifth over of the match, which is a must-win encounter for Pakistan if they are to retain a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals. Imad Wasim removed opener Rahmat Shah for 35 in the 12th over. But a gritty partnership between Asghar Afghan and wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil steadied the innings, as Afghanistan crossed 100 in the 19th over with seven wickets in hand. Their stand of 64 runs was broken in the 26th over when Shadab Khan bowled out Asghar, whose 42-run attacking knock came to a conclusion. Soon after, Alikhil (24 off 66) followed Asghar back to the pavilion, with Wasim making him his second victim of the day. The sixth wicket was of Mohammad Nabi, who was removed by Wahab Riaz in he 37th over. Najibullah Zadran brought up Afghanistan's 200 in the 45th over with a brilliant square drive off of Afridi. But the southpaw had the last laugh, bowling out Zadran on the very next ball. Afridi picked up another in his next over, while Riaz bowled out Hamid Hassan with a laser-guided yorker. In the end, Afghanistan finished 227-9 in their allotted 50 overs. Afghanistan, appearing in just their second World Cup since their debut in 2015, are playing for pride after losing all seven of their matches so far. Pakistan, unchanged from the most recent game against New Zealand, opted to play Wahab Riaz despite the left-arm pacer injuring his non-bowling hand during training a day ago. Playing XI Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Safraraz Ahmed (c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi Afghanistan: Gulbadin Naib (c), Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Rashid Khan, Ikram Ali Khil, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman