*Aslam, bowlers set up an easy win in front of over 10,000 spectators
The contest might not have had international status – it was more of a dress rehearsal for the PCB to host an international match in the future – but the first game of the five-match series between Pakistan A and Kenya was witnessed by more than 10000 spectators amid tight security around the Gaddafi Stadium.
In the end, Sami Aslam’s unbeaten century and Raza Hasan’s 4 for 20 helped Pakistan A to an emphatic nine-wicket victory in Lahore. The hosts lost only one wicket during their 168 chase, with Aslam (101*) and Fazal Subhan (56*) piling down the middling total with 99 balls to spare.
The day started with breeze and moisture on the pitch, and Pakistan A, having won the toss, put Kenya in to bat. The visitors struggled and fell to 46 for 3 within 12 overs. Gurdeep Singh and Nelson Odhiambo held the ground together with a 76-run partnership and guided Kenya past the 100-run mark, but Mohammad Talha returned for his second spell to break the stand in the 29th over when Odhiambo miscued a short ball to fine leg.
Talha was in control of his line and length throughout the game, and had earlier struck on the fourth ball of the day, making the opener Alex Obanda edge an outswinger behind to the keeper. Kennedy Owino (11) was the next man to go after he poked a swinging delivery outside off and was caught at second slips. Gurdeep kept the score ticking with singles and doubles, but Kenya continued to lose wickets at regular intervals at the other end, as Hasan and Shahzaib Ahmed (2 for 42) snared six wickets between them to dismiss the visitors for 167.
Kenya
AA Obanda c †Mohammad Rizwan b Mohammad Talha 2
K Owino c Sharjeel Khan b Mohammad Talha 11
Gurdeep Singh c Sami Aslam b Mohammad Talha 55
MA Ouma st †Mohammad Rizwan b Raza Hasan 12
NM Odhiambo c Shahzaib Ahmed b Mohammad Talha 44
JK Kamande b Shahzaib Ahmed 3
SO Ngoche b Shahzaib Ahmed 5
NN Odhiambo c Fazal Subhan b Raza Hasan 14
E Otieno c Fawad Alam b Raza Hasan 7
JL Bhimji b Raza Hasan 0
JO Ngoche not out 0
Extras (lb 4, w 9, nb 1) 14
Total (all out; 38.3 overs; 163 mins) 167
Fall of wickets 1-2 (Obanda, 0.4 ov), 2-25 (Owino, 6.5 ov), 3-46 (Ouma, 11.3 ov), 4-122 (NM Odhiambo, 28.4 ov), 5-126 (Kamande, 29.4 ov), 6-136 (SO Ngoche, 31.4 ov), 7-157 (NN Odhiambo, 35.3 ov), 8-167 (Otieno, 37.2 ov), 9-167 (Bhimji, 37.6 ov), 10-167 (Gurdeep Singh, 38.3 ov)
Bowling
Mohammad Talha 8.3-1-32-4, Imran Khan 7-1-31-0, Raza Hasan 6-1-20-4, Shahzaib Ahmed 9-0-42-2, Fawad Alam 8-0-38-0
Pakistan A innings
Sami Aslam not out 101
Sharjeel Khan b Otieno 8
Fazal Subhan not out 56
Extras (lb 4, nb 1) 5
Total (1 wicket; 28.3 overs; 122 mins) 170
Did not batBabar Azam, Fawad Alam, Saad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan†, Imran Khan, Mohammad Talha, Raza Hasan, Shahzaib Ahmed
Fall of wickets 1-8 (Sharjeel Khan, 1.6 ov)
Bowling
NN Odhiambo 4-1-21-0, E Otieno 4-0-14-1, JO Ngoche 3.3-0-28-0, NM Odhiambo 2-0-20-0, SO Ngoche 5-0-32-0, JL Bhimji 8-0-33-0, JK Kamande 2-0-18-0
MATCH DETAILS
Toss – Pakistan A, who chose to field
Player of the match – Mohammad Talha (Pakistan A)
Umpires – Ahmed Shahab and Rashid Riaz
TV umpire – Javed Ashraf
Match referee – Mohammed Anees
Reserve umpire – Farooq Ali Khan
