Pakistan triumph as cricket returns home

LAHORE:

Mukhtar Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad struck whirlwind half-centuries to equal Pakistan’s best opening stand of 142 runs, and in the process enabled the hosts to beat Zimbabwe by five wickets in the first T20I in a fitting celebration of the return of international cricket to the country.

Pakistan were set a stiff target of 173 but Mukhtar steadily hammered the bowlers without breaking much of a sweat.

As soon as the openers equalled Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal’s opening record in a T20, Shehzad fell to Williams. Mukhtar got out seven balls later after his 45-ball 83.

Going from 142 for loss to 144-2 seemed to have a discouraging impact on the rest of the team and the outcome of the match was left to skipper Shahid Afridi, who hit the winning runs on his only delivery as Pakistan won with three balls to spare. Sarfraz Ahmed remained unbeaten on three as Graeme Cremer picked up two wickets.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2015.