Pakistan take 1-0 lead against Afghanistan

Hambantota, The Gulf Observer: Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed Afghanistan at 59 runs only to win the first One-Day International (ODI) by 142 runs.

With the victory, the Green Shirts have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series being played in Sri Lanka. It is a home series for Afghanistan who cannot stage international cricket in their own country due to security concerns.

Haris Rauf claimed a five-wicket haul after Pakistan set a target of 202 runs for Afghanistan who were dismissed for only 59 runs in 19.2 overs.

Afghanistan were bowled out for their second-lowest score in ODIs.

This was the first five-wicket haul for Haris Rauf in Pakistan colours, who claimed 5-18 in 6.2 overs.

Shaheen claimed two wickets in two balls in his second over to set the tone for Pakistan during Afghanistan’s batting.

Naseem Shah and Shadab Khan bagged one wicket each.

Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the top run-scorer for Afghanistan with 18 runs.

Earlier, Imam-ul-Haq’s fighting knock and Shadab Khan’s heroics helped Pakistan post a 202-run target for Afghanistan in the first ODI being played in Hambantota.