PESHAWAR, April 24: NWFP defeated visiting Afghanistan 21-19 in a thrilling handball encounter at Islamia College here on Thursday.

Leading 10-11 at lemon, the Afghanistan team did not keep their rhythm in the second-half and lost the match 21-19 in the closely contestant encounter.

Afghanistan’s main shooters Feraidon and Rahman enthralled the sitting capacity crowd with their run down the flank both scored five each individual goals by leaving NWFP goal-keeper Alam guessing.

On the other hand, Sami Ullah Marwat, an international handball player, also slammed six individual goals for NWFP team. He along with Jehanzeb Khan made some combined moves with lot of shot-passes which compelled the on striking Afghanistan team to bow down.

Afghanistan team was leading by 10-11 in the first-half and NWFP team came back strongly and not only tied the tally 11-11 but also won the match by 21-19.

Jehanzeb scored four individual goals, followed by Muhammad Arif (4), Umer (4) and Akbar (2) and Arshad Jamal scored one goal.

For Afghanistan besides Faraidon, Fahim (3), Muhammad Akhbar (3) and Muhammad Bushar (3) were the other leading scorers.

Earlier, the 16-member Afghanistan Handball team arrived via Pak-Afghan boarder Torkhum and was warmly received by the office-bearers of NWFP Handball Association on Thursday.

The purpose of the tour is to apprise the boys from latest techniques and to get practice with Pakistani counter part.

The Afghan team will leave for Faisalabad to participate in the forthcoming National Beach Handball Championship to be played along River Chenab near Chiniot on April 26 and 27.

The team will then also played at match in Lahore against Punjab on April 30, and will clash against Islamabad on May 1, and Rawalpindi on May 2, and return home on May 3.

It was the first occasion that an international handball match was organised by the NWFP Handball Association.

Afghanistan: Abdul Rehman (team captain), Feraidon, Muhammad Akbar, Abdul Ghani, Khan Muhammad, Muhammad Reza, Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Bushir, Moeen Khan, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Zia, Muhammad Sadiq, and Fahim Ullah.

NWFP: Sami Ullah Marwat (captain), Umer Akbar, Arshad, Jamal, Muhammad Sulaman, Ayaz Khan, Atif Ahmed, Muhammad Arif, Jehanzeb, Mansoor Alam (goal-keeper), Muhammad Asif and Sabir Shah.