Afghanistan downed by regional side
Babar, Naved help Multan-Bahawalpur claim three-wicket win.
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Zulfiqar Babar and Naveed Yasin excelled as Multan-Bahawalpur Region XI claimed a three-wicket win over Afghanistan in their second 50-over match of the tour at the Multan Stadium yesterday.
The visitors, who thrashed the Shahid Afridi-led Karachi-Hyderabad regional side by nine wickets in the first one-day in Hyderabad, could not maintain their form against Multan-Bahawalpur.
Afghanistan failed to set a handsome target against the local side after being sent to bat first.
The hosts restricted them to only 156 for nine in the allotted overs after impressive bowling from Babar as the 34-year old left-arm spinner took four wickets after giving away just 28 runs. Kashif Naved (one for 20) was the other wicket-taking bowler from the home side.
Mohibullah Oryakhel, who scored 49 from 100 deliveries, was the top scorer from the visiting team while Mohammad Shahzad, who struck a half-century in the first match, made 37 that included four boundaries and a couple of sixes.
It wasn’t an easy chase for Multan-Bahawalpur as they struggled in the beginning of the run-chase. However, Naved played a defiant knock to steer them to victory with an unbeaten 50 from 86 deliveries. He smashed five boundaries in his match-winning knock and was later named man-of-the-match for his innings.
Meanwhile, Sohaib Maqsood also played a valuable knock, firing 42 including nine boundaries from just 36 deliveries.
Hamza Hotak took three wickets for 36 runs and was the main performing bowler from the touring side while Mohammad Javed claimed two wickets.
The Afghan team will play their next one-day match against Rawalpindi-Faisalabad region side at Gaddafi Stadium tomorrow.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.
Zulfiqar Babar and Naveed Yasin excelled as Multan-Bahawalpur Region XI claimed a three-wicket win over Afghanistan in their second 50-over match of the tour at the Multan Stadium yesterday.
The visitors, who thrashed the Shahid Afridi-led Karachi-Hyderabad regional side by nine wickets in the first one-day in Hyderabad, could not maintain their form against Multan-Bahawalpur.
Afghanistan failed to set a handsome target against the local side after being sent to bat first.
The hosts restricted them to only 156 for nine in the allotted overs after impressive bowling from Babar as the 34-year old left-arm spinner took four wickets after giving away just 28 runs. Kashif Naved (one for 20) was the other wicket-taking bowler from the home side.
Mohibullah Oryakhel, who scored 49 from 100 deliveries, was the top scorer from the visiting team while Mohammad Shahzad, who struck a half-century in the first match, made 37 that included four boundaries and a couple of sixes.
It wasn’t an easy chase for Multan-Bahawalpur as they struggled in the beginning of the run-chase. However, Naved played a defiant knock to steer them to victory with an unbeaten 50 from 86 deliveries. He smashed five boundaries in his match-winning knock and was later named man-of-the-match for his innings.
Meanwhile, Sohaib Maqsood also played a valuable knock, firing 42 including nine boundaries from just 36 deliveries.
Hamza Hotak took three wickets for 36 runs and was the main performing bowler from the touring side while Mohammad Javed claimed two wickets.
The Afghan team will play their next one-day match against Rawalpindi-Faisalabad region side at Gaddafi Stadium tomorrow.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.