KARACHI: Inspired by a spectacular century on international debut from Mohammad Shahbaz, Pakistan Physical Disability whipped England Physical Disability by 78 runs in the opening fixture of the T20 tri-series in Worcester on Sunday.

The playing field at the Barnard’s Green Cricket Club proved quite small for Shahbaz as the opener bludgeoned 11 fours and nine sixes in a dazzling 69-ball innings of 121 to help Pakistan amass 224-4 after England captain Iain Nairn opted to bowl first at the toss.

Pakistan got off to a brilliant start as Shahbaz and the experienced Hasnain Alam shared a first-wicket partnership of 190 inside the first 18 overs. Hasnain contributed 60 off 42 balls with the aid of five fours and four sixes.

England, in reply, lost wickets at regular intervals before being dismissed for 146 in 18.5 overs. Liam O’Brien was the home side’s top scorer with a defiant 33-ball knock of 60 that five fours and four sixes.

Pakistan skipper Nihar Alam starred with the ball by taking four wickets for 11 runs in 3.5 overs with Mohammad Haris — one of the six Pakistan debutants in this game — claiming three for 38 in four overs.

England, however, regained their composure later in the day as they bounced back to humble Bangladesh Physical Disability by eight wickets with opener Alex Hammond hitting up an unbeaten 81 (off 52 balls, nine fours and three sixes) as England reached 198-2 in 17.3 overs after restricting Bangladesh to 195-4.

Results:

England Physical Disability beat Bangladesh Physical Disability by eight wickets.

BANGLADESH PHYSICAL DISABILITY 195-4 in 20 overs (Javed Bhuyan 62, Shaharia Shamim 56 not out, Mohammad Imran 27, Shariful Islam 24; Liam O’Brien 2-31); ENGLAND PHYSICAL DISABILITY 198-2 in 17.3 overs (Alex Hammond 81 not out, Liam Thomas 57, Hugo Hammond 31, Callum Flynn 20 not out).

Pakistan Physical Disability beat England Physical Disability by 78 runs.

PAKISTAN PHYSICAL DISABILITY 224-4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Shahbaz 121, Hasnain Alam 60; Alex Hammond 2-34); ENGLAND PHYSICAL DISABILITY 146 in 18.5 overs (Liam O’Brien 60, Liam Thomas 26; Nihar Alam 4-11, Mohammad Haris 3-38, Malik Kashif 2-29).

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2018