Pakistan A win by seven wickets

Azam, Iftikhar contribute with half-tons in hosts’ opening T20 win over English Lions

KARACHI: Half-centuries from Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed propelled Pakistan A to a comfortable seven-wicket win against English Lions in their five-match series T20 opener at the ICC Academy in Dubai, UAE.

Set a target of 146, hosts Pakistan ended up with 149-3 in 19 overs.

Iftikhar top-scored with an unbeaten 66 off 46 with three sixes and two strikes to the fence, while Babar slammed a 40-ball 56 laced with a six and six boundaries.



The duo built an important 124-run fourth-wicket stand after the team’s early trouble that saw them reduced to 25-3 at one stage.

Opener Fakhar Zaman (four) was dismissed in the first over of the innings by Reece Topley, while his partner Shahzaib Hasan (three) soon followed him back to the pavilion at the hands of Jake Ball.

Sohaib Maqsood also failed to get going as he managed just an 18-ball 17, perishing to Ball.



Earlier, English Lions were restricted to 145-6 in their 20 overs as David Malan starred with a 51-run knock, hitting three sixes and as many fours in the process.

Other significant scorers were Sam Billing, who made 31 off 21 with a six and three fours, and Ross Whiteley (22) and Joe Clarke (16).

The trio of Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees and Bilal Asif took two wickets apiece, while skipper Junaid Khan remained wicketless.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2015.

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