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Akmal takes Pakistan home

Naimul Karim
A century from Umar Akmal saved Pakistan's blushes and helped them recover from a precarious position to post a 72-run win over neighbours Afghanistan in the third match of the Asia Cup at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday. The win helped Pakistan earn a bonus point and also took them to the top of the table with five points.
Off the field things were not so rosy for Akmal hwoever, as news emerged on Thursday that a Lahore court issued an arrest warrant in his name for allegedly brawling with a traffic warden on February 1.
Back to the match, Pakistan after being put in to bat had slumped to 117 for six in the 30th over before Akmal's 102 off 89 balls led a superb recovery and helped them post 248. Afghanistan, who were playing their first ever Asia Cup match, were bundled out for 176 in 47.2 overs.
Afghanistan began their chase in style as Mohammad Shahzad flicked Umar Gul for four off the very first ball. Shahzad's over-aggressive intent however led to his dismissal in the fifth over.
There were a couple of good stands in the top order which kept them in the chase for most of the innings. At first, it was the 33-run stand between Noor Ali Zadran (44) and Asghar Stanikzai (40). The introduction of Saeed Ajmal
FROM PAGE 20 however, led to troubles for the young side and Zadran was trapped in front in the 19th over. The third-wicket stand between Stanikzai and Nawroz Mangai (35), worth 74 runs, was Afghanistan's best bet. But once both these batsmen departed, Afghanistan collapsed. From 139 for 2, they were bundled out for 176.
Earlier, an aggressive start by Afghanistan pacers Dawlat Zadran and Shapoor Zadran blocked Pakistan's run flow and put them under pressure, leading toaflurryof wickets from the thirteenth over onwards. Slow left-armer Hamza Hotak broke the shackles by getting Sharjeel Khan caught at deep-midwicket. The everdependent Mohammad Hafeez followed next when he skied one to mid-off in the 20th over. Pakistan sunk into deeper trouble two overs later as Ahmed Shehzad was bowled by legspinner Samiullah Shenwari with a ball that kept low. The very next ball saw the depar-ture of danger man Misbahul Haq, who was run out following a comical mix-up with Sohaib Maqsood.
Pakistan suddenly found themselves struggling at 91 for four at the half-way mark. Shenwari continued to keep the pressure on with his leg spin and got Maqsood caught at mid-off in the 27 th over.
After Dawlat removed Shahid Afridi in the 30th over and reduced the reigning champions to 117 for sue, all Afghanistan needed to do was to stay calm and make no mistakes. They fielded quite well throughout the innings, but unfortunately the one catch they dropped - Umar Akmal at square leg in the 37th over when the batsman was on n - eventually led to their downfall.
U mar went on full throttle after that, smacking seven fours and three sixes in his 89-ball century. He reached the three-figure mark with a six off Dawlat Zadran in the penultimate ball of the innings. It was his counterattack strategy that led to the win.