Pakistan A beat Afghanistan by five wickets in the first One-day International at Diamond Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Afghaistan captain Nowroz Mangal played sensibly and made 33 runs. Essa played some lovely shots while wickets kept on falling from the other end. Man of the match Nabi Essa played a sheet anchor role and his innings of 72 runs was a treat to watch. Afghanistan innings was wrapped up at 152 runs in 37.3 overs.
Talha grabbed three wickets for 29 runs in 7.3 overs, Captain Sohail Tanveer and Sadaf Hussain got two wickets each. Promising left arm bowler Zulfiqar Babar and right arm leg break bowler Yasir Shah also took one wicket each.
Pakistan A started their innings in a slow style. Shan Masood and Sharjeel Khan started the innings for Pakistan A but Shan was soon returned to the pavilion. He scored 5 runs. Amin with Sharjeel took score to 76 before Umer was out for 29. Pakistan A achieved the target for the lose of 5 wickets.
Fine bowling from the Afghan bowlers, ably supported by their fielders caused panic to batsmen who kept on throwing their wickets away. Afghan ground fielding and catching was superb, the fielders never allowed any batsmen to take sharp single and did not allow overthrow run to the Pakistan players.