EDINBURGH: Inspired by brilliant knocks from Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik, Pakistan cruised to a comfortable 48-run victory in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals against Scotland at the Grange Cricket Club here on Tuesday.

After posting an imposing total of 204-4, Pakistan restricted the hosts to 156-6 to take an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The Pakistan captain registered his best T20 score of 89 and Malik bludgeoned five sixes in making 53 from just 27 deliveries.

Sarfraz produced a typically gutsy knock while hitting 10 boundaries and three sixes during his 49-ball innings that earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Scotland began their chase on a bright note when George Munsey (25 off 22 balls) and captain Kyle Coetzer (31 off 18, four fours and one six) added 53.

Michael Leask was Scotland’s top scorer with an unbeaten 38 with his 24-ball effort including three fours and one six.

Scoreboard

SCOTLAND:

H.G. Munsey c Sarfraz b Hasan 25
K.J. Coetzer c Asif b Nawaz 31
R.D. Berrington b Shadab 3
C.S. MacLeod lbw b Shadab 12
D.E. Budge c Faheem b Amir 24
M.A. Leask not out 38
M.H. Cross c Malik b Hasan 13
S.M. Sharif not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-2, NB-1) 7

TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 156

FALL OF WKTS: 1-53, 2-63, 3-69, 4-82, 5-107, 6-150.

BOWLING: Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-22-1; Mohammad Amir 4-0-45-1; Hasan Ali 4-0-33-2 (2w); Faheem Ashraf 3-0-23-0 (1nb); Shadab Khan 4-0-25-2; Hussain Talat 1-0-4-0.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2018