Pakistan crushed Afghanistan by seven wickets

By Sohail Zafar on Friday, 10th February 2012

Younis Khan scored half-century to guide Pakistan a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Afghanistan

Shahid Afridi claimed five-wicket haul and Younis Khan scored an unbeaten half-century as Pakistan crushed Afghanistan by seven wickets in the maiden one-day international at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Afridi, recording his eighth ODI five-for, produced the figures of 5-36 to skittle out Afghanistan for 195 in 48.3 overs after they opted to bat.

Younis then played the levelheaded vigil of 70 not out and stitched up an unconquered 99 alongside skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (40 not out) to lead Pakistan beyond the modest target with more then 12 overs to spare.

This was Afghanistan’s maiden one-day international against a Test playing nation. They previously played 18 ODIs but all were against associate and affiliate teams Kenya, Ireland, Netherlands, UAE and Canada.

Younis’ 65-ball knock was studded with 10 boundaries while Misbah hit three fours and two sixes in his 55-ball knock.

Pakistan VS Afghanistan: Farhat, Younis added 47 runs

Opener Imran Farhat (52) settled down Pakistan’s chase with a 47-run third-wicket stand in adjacent to Younis after Mohammad Hafeez and (8) and Asad Shafiq (20) fell to paceman Dawlat Zadran cheaply.

Leg-break Samiullah Shenwari split the Farhat-Younis association in 22nd over by claiming a return catch off former, who hit nine boundaries during his 67-ball knock.

Earlier, paceman Umar Gul gave Pakistan an early breakthrough by capturing a popped catch of opener Noor Ali (9).

Fellow-opener Karim Sadiq (40) and Mohammad Shahzad (20) galloped Afghanistan past 50 with some sparking shots before Afridi struck drastically and removed duo and skipper Nowroz Mangal (11) and Gulbodin Naib (7) in quick-succession to leave the minnows 101-5.

With this Afridi also became the second spinner with the highest one-day wickets (338) behind Muttiah Muralitharan (534), surpassing India’s Anil Kumble who had claimed 333 wickets.

Pakistan VS Afghanistan: Nabi, Shenwari added 46 runs

Mohammad Nabi (37) and Samiullah Shenwari (32) commenced the rebuilt after simultaneous dismissals and shared 46 runs for sixth-wickets before Nabi got run out off in the attempt of fleeing for an inexistent single.

Gul and Riaz both picked two wickets apiece.

Pakistan will now face England in the first one-dayer at Dubai on Monday. The four-match one-day series will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals.

Pakistan VS Afghanistan only ODI Scorecard