Booked Akmal bails Pakistan out

Batsman’s ton helps avoid humiliation against Afghanistan.

The day an arrest warrant was issued against him by a Lahore court for not attending a hearing of the traffic warden assault case, Umar Akmal played the innings of his life to rescue Pakistan from the possibility of an embarrassing defeat at the hands of minnows Afghanistan in the Asia Cup match played in Fatullah on Thursday.

Spurred by Akmal, Pakistan, tottering at 117 for six, reached 248 in the allotted 50 overs, a score that proved beyond the reach of the valiant Afghanistan team.

In reply, Afghanistan made a promising start, Noor Ali Zadran (44) and Asghar Stanikzai (40) provided a solid base for the chase, and the newcomers were in the hunt till the 37th over of the innings when Pakistan tightened the reins.

Shahid Afridi broke a 74-run partnership for the third wicket between Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangal who fell for 35.

The rest of the batting line-up caved in as the asking rate mounted, Mohammad Hafeez was the star with the ball for Pakistan snaring three wickets, Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul dismissed two batsmen each.

Pakistan also won a bonus point by dismissing the opposition for 176 runs in the 48th over of the innings; the margin of their win was 72 runs which ensured the extra point.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will play India in the fourth match of the tournament at the same venue on Friday.

Akmal’s ton saves Pakistan after batting collapse

Earlier in the day, Pakistan cricket fans were once again in for a rude shock as Afghanistan bowlers held the batsmen in check on a benign Fatullah track.

The disciplined Afghanistan attack ran through an insipid Pakistan top-order before Umar Akmal revived the innings with a hard fought century, the second of his career.

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl first, after a 55-run opening stand, the middle-order perished limply, the defending champions had crashed to 117 for six in the 30th over of the innings before Akmal (102) and Anwar Ali (21) revived the innings with a 60 run stand for the seventh wicket.

Akmal pushed the accelerator in the closing stages of the innings, he reached his second ODI hundred in the last over where he pummelled 18 runs, and Pakistan reached 248 for 8 in the allotted 50 overs. The last three wickets more than doubled the runs accumulated by the main batsmen who all fell to a series of reckless shots; Ahmed Shehzad was the other main run getter scoring 50 off 74 ball before he fell to a poor shot.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.