Salman Ali Agha's batting brillance and Haris Rauf's bowling prowess powered Pakistan to a comprehensive 39-run victory against Afghanistan in the tri-nation series' opener at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
AFGHANISTAN'S INNINGS
At the death overs, Rashid Khan provided a ray of hope to Afghanistan, with blistering 16-ball 39, creaming five sixes with a staggering strike rate of 244. But Haris removed him to ensure the Green Shirts' victory over Afghanistan.
Haris Rauf has bowled a double-wicket to mount pressure on Afghanistan batters in the tri-nation series opener.
Haris has perplexed Sediqullah Atal with a series of slow deliveries to finally get rid of the latter, who scored 19-ball 23.
Subsequently, he removed Karim Janat on 0. Sufiyan Muqeem has removed Darwish Rasooli on 13-ball 21 in a caught and ball.
Mohammad Nawaz has removed Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omerzai on 0.
In the 15th over, Afghan stalwart Mohammad Nabi perished off Muqeem. He could only score 6-ball 3.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was once again looking destructive with the bat, only before he was perplexed by Mohammad Nawaz. He smashed three boundaries and one six.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf (4-31) has bagged four wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-21), Mohammad Nawaz (2-23) and Sufiyan Muqeem (2-25) took two wickets apiece.
PAKISTAN'S INNINGS
Salman Ali Agha’s unconquered 36-ball 53 powered Pakistan to 182-7 against Afghanistan in the trilateral series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had provided impetus to the Pakistan's innings against Afghanistan. Agha smashed three boundaries and three towering sixes in his unbeaten innings.
Despite being run out in the last over, Faheem creamed one boundary and one six to help Pakistan surpass over 180 on the board.
Agha has smashed Rashid for two consecutive sixes to provide the Green Shirts a glimmer of hope to put staggering total on the board.
Hasan Nawaz made his way back to the pavilion, scoring merely 13-ball 9.
Afghanistan captain skipper Rashid Khan has removed Saim Ayub to spoil Pakistan's good start in the powerplay overs.
Subsequently, in the 8th over, Afghanistan stalwart Mohammad Nabi removed Fakhar Zaman, after treating the former with contempt.
Azmatullah Omerzai has removed Sahibzada Farhan, who was looking explosive with the bat.
Farhan smashed two sixes and one four in his 10-ball 21.
For Afghanistan, Fareed Ahmad (2-47) picked up two wickets, but went for plenty of runs.
Mujeebur Rahman (1-22), Azmatullah Omarzai (1-28), Mohammad Nabi (1-18), Rashid Khan (1-26) took a scalp each.
Pakistan have elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the opening match of the tri-nation series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
According to details, the Green Shirts will look to gain their momentum in the series ahead of the all-important Asia Cup, slated to begin from September 9. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will look to continue to uplift their morale, considering their solid performances in the format recently.
PLAYING XI
Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmed
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
