Pakistan claim narrow T20 win against Afghanistan

Hafeez

Afghanistan set their opponents a slender victory target of 138 but Pakistan cut it fine in the end, as captain Mohammad Hafeez (42 not out) and Shahid Afridi (one not out) saw them over the finish line.

Left-armer Junaid Khan (3-24 off four overs) was Pakistan's chief destroyer with the ball as they warmed up for their limited-overs series against Sri Lanka with a win.

Afghanistan won the toss in Sharjah and elected to bat but openers Mohammad Shahzad (two) and Nawroz Mangal (one) departed cheaply.

Najibullah Zadran (38) helped rescue Afghanistan, though, hitting three fours and two sixes in his exciting 30-ball stay at the crease.

Youngster Bilawal Bhatti (1-25 off three) removed Asghar Stanikzai (15) in the seventh over and captain Mohammad Nabi (15) also failed to convert a start.

Junaid mopped up the tail with some excellent bowling at the death, claiming the wickets of Najibullah, Samiullah Shenwari (16) and Dawlat Zadran (zero).

Late hitting from Mirwais Ashraf (28 not out) was important but Pakistan openers Ahmed Shehzad (35) and Sharjeel Khan (18) started brightly.

Nabi (1-21 off four) was the pick of the Afghanistan bowlers and he removed Sharjeel, while Shehzad's innings – that included six fours – ended in the eighth over.

But Hafeez remained a composed figure and with support from Umar Akmal (28) took Pakistan to the verge of triumph, and although they were given a scare in Dawlat's final over, they were still good enough to win the only match of the series.

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