Friday 10 February 2012
SHARJAH: Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took his eighth five-wicket haul in one-day cricket but Afghanistan still managed 195 in their first-ever day-night international at Sharjah Stadium here on Friday.
The 31-year-old leg-spinner took four wickets in his first spell to derail Afghanistan — who won the toss and batted — from 54-1 to 101-5 before finishing with 5-36 in his 10 overs.
Afridi also became the second spinner with the highest one-day wickets (338) behind Muttiah Muralitharan (534), surpassing India's Anil Kumble who had 333 wickets.
But despite Afridi's brilliance, the Afghan batsmen put up an excellent show and had they not lacked experience — playing their first one-day international against a top nation — they would have scored more.
There was plenty of fireworks on and off the field as Afghan batsmen hit six sixes during their innings which delighted the bumper 15,000-strong weekend crowd — mostly Pakistan and Afghan expats.
Paceman Umar Gul provided Pakistan with the early breakthrough when he caught Noor Ali (nine) off his own bowling before Afridi dismissed Mohammad Shahzad (20), Nawroz Mangal (11), Gulbadin Naib (seven) and Karim Sadiq (40) in his first spell.
Sadiq hit two boundaries and two sixes during his aggressive 47-ball knock.
Mohammad Nabi, who scored 37 with two sixes, added 46 for the sixth wicket with Samiullah Shinwari who finished with 32 studded with four boundaries.
Gul and Wahab Riaz took two wickets each
