Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 72 runs in their group-match of Asia Cup 2014 to go top of the table at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah, on Thursday.
For debutant Afghanistan Noor Ali Zadran (44) and Asghat Stanikzai (40) were the top scorer as Afghanistan were restricted to 176 all out courtesy some terrific bowling from Pakistan.
For Pakistan Mohammad Hafeez was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/29, while Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul picked up two wickets each as Pakistan registered a comfortable victory even grabbing a bonus point.
Earlier, Umar Akmal smashed a brilliant century to propel Pakistan to a respectable 8/248.
Akmal, 23, scored 102 off just 89 deliveries after Afghanistan won the toss and deciding to field first, contained Pakistan to 6/117 inside 30 overs on a slow and dull pitch.
Akmal scored his hundred with a huge six in the second last ball of the innings.
The 23-year-old wicket-keeper, who scored 74 in the first match against Sri Lankan team in the last match, smashed three sixes and seven boundaries while rescuing Pakistan from a tricky position to a relative safety.
Eventhough Pakistan were struggling at one stage, but openers Ahmed Shehzad (50) and Sharjeel Khan got the team off to a very good start, constructing 55 runs for the first wicket before the Sharjeel was dismissed for 25 runs by Hamza Hotak.
Mohammad Hafeez (10) then came to the crease with Shehzad but the pair could only add 23 runs as Mirwais Ashraf accounted for the wicket of Hafeez.
Shehzad’s wicket triggered a typical Pakistani collapse and from a healthy 2/89, Pakistan were reeling at 6/117. The collapse saw Pakistan lose four wickets for meager 28 runs.
Afghanistan took wickets of Sohaib Maqsood (13), skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (0) and all-rounder Shahid Afridi (6) in quick succession to put Pakistan under tremendous pressure.
It was leg-spinner Samiullah Shenwari who cleaned up Shehzad after Pakistani opener had notched up half century.
However, Misbah was unlucky to be run out without facing a ball. Afridi then missed his trademark slog as the ball struck his off stump off Dawlat Zadran’s bowling.
But Akmal paired up with Anwar Ali as the duo added 60 runs to calm down nerves in the Pakistan dressing room.
On the other hand, the Afghanistan bowlers, who started off so brilliantly, were wayward in the death overs and gave away all their initial advantage letting Pakistan, score 84 runs in the last 10 overs.
For Afghanistan, Mirwais Ashraf was best bowler on display as he conceded just 29 runs in his eight overs, while also taking two wickets. The other bowlers to take a wicket were Shamiullah Shenwari, Dawlat Zadran, and Hamza Hotak who took two, two, and one wicket respectively.
