Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 39 runs in tri-series opener

SHARJAH: Haris Rauf took four wickets as Pakistan downed Afghanistan by 39 runs in the first game of the T20I tri-series on Friday.

Chasing 183, the Rashid Khan-led side was bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz opened the inning for the side, however, their opening stand lasted just three overs.

Shaheen Afridi provided Pakistan with the breakthrough on the final ball of the third over when he dismissed Zadran for nine, leaving Afghanistan at 17/1 in three overs.

Sediqullah Atal then built a 51-run stand with Gurbaz to help Afghanistan recover in the game.

Mohammad Nawaz broke the parternship by dimissing Atal for 23, reducing the side to 68/2 in eight overs.

Haris Rauf then removed Atal (23) and Karim Jannat for a duck in a double-wicket maiden over to reduce Afghanistan to 93/4 in 12 overs.

Darwish Rasooli was caught-and-bowled by spinner Sufiyan Muqeem after making 21 runs, as half of the Afghan side returned back to the dugout for 93 in 12.1 overs.

Azmatullah Omarzai fell to Nawaz for duck, while Mohammad Nabi could score just three runs before becoming Muqeem’s second victim in the game.

Rashid Khan then lauched a late-inning fiery cameo, however, the game had gone away from Afghanistan by that time.

He fell to Haris Rauf after smashing 39 off 16 balls, with the help of five sixes and a four.

Shaheen Afridi then dismissed Mujeeb Ur Rehman for four, while Fareed Ahmed became Haris Rauf’s four victim as Afghanistan were bundled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.

Apart from Rauf’s four-fer, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, captain Salman Agha remained unbeaten on 53 as Pakistan posted 182/7 against in the PAK vs AFG.

Sahibzada Farhan looked dangerous as he scored quick 21 runs off nine balls. However, he fell in the third over of the inning, leaving Pakistan at 26/1 in 2.3 overs.

Fakhar Zaman then arrived at the crease and shared a 29-run stand with Saim Ayub to take the Men in Green to 55 in 6.4 overs.

Ayub fell to Rashid Khan while attempting a big shot. He scored 20 off 17 deliveries.

Captain Salman Agha the joined Fakhar Zaman, who was removed by Mohammad Nabi to reduce Pakistan to 63/3 in 7.3 overs.

Hasan Nawaz found it hard to get going and could score just nine off 13 balls.

Mohammad Nawaz then joined Salman Agha and the two raised a 28-ball 53 runs partnerhship to take the Greenshirts to 136 in 15.3 overs.

Nawaz fell to Mujeeb Ur Rehman after scoring 21 off 11 balls.

Mohammad Haris added 15 off 13 balls to the total while Faheem Ashraf was run out on the last delivery of the inning after scoring 14 off five balls.

Agha remained unbeaten on 53 off 36 balls, with the help of three fours and three sixes, as Pakistan finished at 182/7 in the PAK vs AFG game.

Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Sufiyan Muqeem.

Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmed.