Pakistan ‘A’ restricts Afghanistan to 152 in 1st ODI – First innings report

Pakistan A bowled out the entire Afghanistan batting line-up for a paltry, 152 runs, in the first unofficial One Day International (ODI), at Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, Pakistan.

While only three Afghan batsmen could manage to reach double figures, the visitors collapsed in 37.3 overs.

Pakistani bowlers maintained an impeccable line and length throughout the match, which eventually helped the home side, to bundle out the visitors for 152-runs.

Earlier in the day, the Afghanistan skipper, Nawroz Mangal, won the toss and elected to bat first, expecting his side to post a decent total on the board.

However, the batsmen let their captain down and kept on losing their wickets at regular intervals.

The Afghanistan top-order failed to set a solid foundation as the top three batsmen, Noor Ali Zadran, Karim Sadiq, and, Mohammad Shahzad, went back to the pavilion when team’s score was just 13.

Three quick wickets brought the skipper, Mangal, at the crease, who gave his team some hope by scoring a crucial 33 runs.

Meanwhile, middle-order batsmen, Asghar Stanikzai and Gulbodin Naib, could not make an impact on the game and lost their wickets after scoring eight and 11 runs respectively.

Pakistan maintained immense pressure on the Afghani line-up and left them with no chance to come back into the game.

Mohammad Nabi was the only player in the Afghan XI, who showed some resistance, with the bat. Nabi batted beautifully and smashed an excellent knock of 72 runs including seven boundaries and three mighty sixes.

However, he got no support from his team, as the rest of the batsmen gifted their wickets without adding sufficient runs to the total.

From Pakistan’s bowling, Mohammad Talha, was the pick of the bowlers, who returned with fabulous bowling figures of 3/29. Skipper, Sohail Tanvir, and, Sadaf Hussain, picked up two wickets each, while Zulfiqar Babarand Yasir Shah bagged one apiece.

Furthermore, bowlers showed great discipline in the field and gave away just five extras in the whole innings.

Pakistan A now requires 153 runs to win the first contest of the three-match series, at a scoring rate of almost 4 runs per over.