Ton-up Akmal lifts shaky Pakistan to 248-8
Friday, 28 February 2014
FATULLAH, Feb 27 (AFP): Umar Akmal hit a fighting unbeaten century to lift defending champions Pakistan to 248-8 in their crucial Asia Cup match against a disciplined Afghanistan at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium here Thursday.
The 23-year-old right-hander led the recovery with a 89-ball 102, hitting a six off the penultimate delivery to complete his second one-day hundred.
In all he hit seven boundaries and three sixes, helping Pakistan to put on 59 runs in the last five overs.
Akmal led the fightback through a 60-run seventh wicket stand with Anwar Ali (21) to lift Pakistan from a precarious 117-6 in the 30th over.
Mirwais Ashraf (2-29), Dawlat Zadran (2-73) and Samiullah Shinwari (2-34) had jolted the batting after Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi won the toss and opted to bowl on a slow Fatullah stadium pitch.
Pakistan began fluently with a stand of 55 between Ahmed Shehzad (50), who hit seven boundaries in his 74-ball innings, and Sharjeel Khan (25).