Pakistan Shaheens, led by the exceptional performance of Shahnawaz Dahani, emerged victorious with a four-wicket win against Nepal in their opening match of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023.
The defending champions displayed their bowling prowess, bundling out Nepal for 179 runs in 37 overs at the Colombo Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka on Friday.
Opting to bat first, Nepal struggled against the dominant Pakistani bowling attack, losing wickets consistently.
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Right-arm pacers Shahnawaz Dahani and Mohammad Wasim Jnr stole the show, accounting for nine out of the ten wickets.
Dahani’s remarkable performance resulted in him taking five wickets for 38 runs in his ten overs, while Wasim managed to secure four wickets for 51 runs in his allotted ten overs.
Nepal faced a dire situation at 72 for eight in just 15.4 overs. However, Sompal Kami and Pratis GC combined forces and stitched together a crucial partnership of 58 runs for the ninth wicket.
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After Pratis departed, Kami continued his fight and added another 49 runs for the final wicket. Kami showcased his skill with a well-earned 75 runs off 101 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes.
Chasing a target of 180 runs, the Pakistan Shaheens displayed resilience and determination. Tayyab Tahir’s composed innings of 51 runs off 67 balls, which included six boundaries, led the team to victory in just 33 overs.
Contributions from Omair Bin Yousuf (36 runs off 40 balls, including four boundaries) and Kamran Ghulam (31 runs off 26 balls, including one boundary and two sixes) further strengthened their pursuit of victory.
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Upcoming Match: The Pakistan Shaheens will now face UAE A on July 17 at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.
Summary:
Pakistan emerged victorious by four wickets. Nepal scored 179 runs, with Sompal Kami contributing 75 and Pratish GC scoring 26. Shahnawaz Dahani took 5 wickets for Pakistan, while Mohammad Wasim Jnr claimed 4 wickets.
Pakistan Shaheens chased down the target, reaching 181-6 in 32.5 overs. Tayyab Tahir scored 51 runs, Omair Bin Yousuf scored 36, and Kamran Ghulam added 31 runs. Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi took 3 wickets for Nepal. Shahnawaz Dahani was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
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