atullah: Talented wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal notched up a breezy century under pressure before the bowlers came to the party and guided Pakistan to a bonus-point 72-run victory over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup here on Thursday.
Chasing a challenging target of 249, Afghanistan could only manage 176 in 47.2 overs in front of the disciplined Pakistan bowling attack.
Put in to bat, Pakistan rode on Akmal’s scintillating batting effort to post 248/8 in 50 overs on a slow pitch.
The young batsman smashed unbeaten 102 off 89 balls after Pakistan were reduced to 117/6 inside 30 overs.
The 23-year-old, who scored 74 in the last match, clobbered three sixes and seven fours.
Afghanistan, in reply, had a poor start as they lost opener Mohammad Shahzad (9) early. His partner, Noor Ali Zadran, played a few attractive shots at the other end.
Zadran made 44 off 63 deliveries and hit seven boundaries, before he was trapped in front by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Asghar Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangal started the resurrection job for Afghanistan and tried to build a partnership. Though the duo put on a 74-run for the third wicket, they failed to get the spiralling asking rate down.
While Stanikzai consumed 91 deliveries for his 40, Mangal made 35 off 57 balls. Both hit three boundaries each in their 119-ball partnership.
With the required rate steadily going up, Afghanistan played shots and perished in pursuit of runs.
Afghanistan lost the wickets of Stanikzai and Mangal in a space of three balls.
Skipper Mohammad Nabi (15) and Najibullah Zadran (1) failed to make an impact in the run-chase as Afghanistan fell way short.
The Afghan team faced difficulty in negotiating the Pakistan spin-trio led by Saeed Ajmal, who picked up 2/25 runs in his nine overs.
Shahid Afridi (1/31) and Mohammad Hafeez (3/29) also kept the opposition in check, besides chipping in with wickets. (PTI)
SCORECARD
Pakistan:
S Khan c Zadran b Hotak 25
A Shehzad b Shenwari 50
M Hafeez c Nabi b Ashraf 10
S M’sood c Stan’zai b Sh’wari 13
Misbah run out 0
U Akmal not out 102
S Afridi b Zadran 6
A Ali c Mangal b Ashraf 21
U Gul b Zadran 15
S Ajmal not out 1
Extras: (lb-2, w-2, nb-1) 5
Total: (8 wkts; 50 overs) 248
FOW: 1-55, 2-78, 3-89, 4-89, 5-108, 6-117, 7-177, 8-217
Bowling: S Zadran 9-1-42-0, D Zadran 10-0-73-2, Nabi 8-0-46-0, Hotak 8-1-22-1, Ashraf 8-1-29-2, Shenwari 7-0-34-2
Afghanistan:
M Shahzad c Akmal b Gul 9
NA Zadran lbw b Ajmal 44
A Stanikzai c Hafeez b Afridi 40
N Mangal run out 35
M Nabi lbw b Gul 15
N Zadran b Hafeez 1
S Shenwari b Hafeez 14
M Ashraf run out 4
D Zadran b Ajmal 0
S Zadran c Ajmal b Hafeez 1
H Hotak not out 0
Extras: (b-8, w-5) 13
Total: (all out; 47.2 overs) 176
FOW: 1-32, 2-65, 3-139, 4-140, 5-151, 6-159, 7-172, 8-172, 9-175
Bowling: Gul 9-0-44-2; Ali 4-0-23-0; Junaid 6-1-16-0; Afridi 10-0-31-1; Ajmal 9-1-25-2; Hafeez 9.2-0-29-3