ISLAMABAD: A superb five-wicket haul by fast bowler Abbas Afridi and half-centuries by Hasee­bullah and Usman Khan guided Pakistan Shaheens to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Bangladesh ‘A’ in the first one-day here at the Islamabad Club on Monday.

The win gives Shaheens a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second game will be played at the same venue on Wednesday.

After opting to field, Sha­heens dismissed the visiting team for a paltry total of 183 in 36 overs.

Right-armer Abbas was the pick of the bowlers, with match figures of 9-0-38-5. This was Abbas’ second five-fer in 22 List-A matches. He was later named player of the match.

Left-arm pacer Jahandad Khan (2-51) and left-arm spinner Mehran Mumtaz (2-29) supported Abbas well.

Only Saif Hassan (58 off 47 balls; ten fours and a six) managed to make a half-century for Bangladesh ‘A’.

Rishad Hossain coming to bat at number nine was the other notable run-getter, contributing 40 off 37 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes.

Shaheens achieved the target in just 27.5 overs thanks to a 129-run partnership between Haseebullah and Usman for the second wicket after Shaheens lost opener Abdul Faseeh (one) at a total of 13.

Left-handed opener Hase­e­bullah returned unbeaten on 73 off 81 balls, smashing seven fours and two sixes. Right-handed Usman fell 13 runs short of his first List-A century. His 60-ball 87 included eight boundaries and five towering sixes.

Omair Bin Yousuf also ret­u­rned unbeaten on 14 off 19, adding an unbroken 42-run partnership for the third wicket with Haseebullah.

For Bangladesh ‘A’, Mah­edi Hasan and Mosaddek Ho­s­sain claimed a wicket each.

Scores in brief:

Shaheens beat Ba­n­­­gladesh ‘A’ by eight wickets.

BANGLADESH ‘A’ 183 in 36 overs (Saif Hassan 58, Rishad Hossain 40; Moham­mad Abbas Afridi 5-38, Meh­ran Mumtaz 2-29, Jahandad Khan 2-51); PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 184-2 in 27.5 overs (Usman Khan 87, Haseebullah 73 not out; Mosaddek Hossain 1-15, Mahedi Hasan 1-19).

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2024