Faheem’s Career-Best 4-27 Restricts Afghanistan to 169

News Desk 

Sharjah: All-rounder Faheem Ashraf produced a career-best spell of 4-27 as Pakistan were set a 170-run target against Afghanistan in their Twenty20 International tri-series clash on Tuesday.

The match began with both sides observing a minute of silence in memory of flood victims in Pakistan and earthquake victims in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan opted to bat first after winning the toss, aiming to set a 170-plus target. Openers Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal provided resistance, both scoring half-centuries, but Pakistan’s disciplined bowling ensured they fell just short.

Afghanistan lost an early wicket when Saim Ayub dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over. Atal, however, kept the scoreboard ticking, reaching his second fifty of the tournament before falling for 64 off 46 deliveries to Faheem in the 16th over.

Zadran struck fluent boundaries to complete his half-century off 38 balls before being undone by a slower ball from Faheem, who was the pick of Pakistan’s attack.

Despite the duo’s efforts, wickets at key moments restricted Afghanistan to 169-5 in their 20 overs. Faheem claimed the prized scalps of both set batters along with Azmatullah Omarzai, while part-time spinner Saim Ayub impressed with an economical spell of 1-18.

Pakistan made two changes for the fixture, recalling Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf in place of Hasan Ali and Salman Mirza. The tri-series, serving as a build-up to the Asia Cup beginning September 9, has already seen Pakistan notch up convincing wins over Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 39 runs in the series opener and outclassed UAE by 31 runs, with young batters Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz leading the charge.

Under white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, Pakistan are testing combinations as they build towards next year’s T20 World Cup, moving ahead without senior pros Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

The final of the tri-series is scheduled for September 7.

Teams:

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufyan Moqim.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.