Daily Times

LAHORE: Shahnawaz Dahani’s five-wicket haul led defending champions Pakistan Shaheens to a four-wicket win over Nepal in their first match of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 at the Colombo Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka on Friday. After opting to bat first, Nepal were bundled out for 179 in 37 overs. Right-arm pacers Dahani and Mohammad Wasim Jnr headlined the stellar bowling display as they scalped nine of the 10 wickets to fall. Dahani took five wickets for 38 from 10 overs, while Wasim managed four wickets 51 in his allotted 10 overs. Earlier, the losing team were reeling at 72 for eight in 15.4 overs before Sompal Kami and Pratis GC (26, 24b, 1×4, 2x6s) got together and added 58 runs for the ninth wicket. After the departure of Pratis, Kami knitted a 49-run partnership for the 10th wicket. Kami was the last batter to return back to the hut after scoring 75 off 101, which included nine fours and two sixes.

Chasing 180 to win, Tayyab Tahir’s 51 off 67 balls which included six fours led Shaheens to victory inside 33 overs. Omair Bin Yousuf (36, 40b, 4x4s) and Kamran Ghulam (31, 26b, 1×4, 2x6s) were other contributors with the bat. Shaheens will now face UAE A on 17 July at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.

Brief scores:

Pakistan Shaheens beat Nepal by four wickets

Nepal 179 all out, 37 overs (Sompal Kami 75, Pratish GC 26; Shahnawaz Dahani 5-38, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 4-51) vs Pakistan Shaheens 181-6, 32.5 overs (Tayyab Tahir 51, Omair Bin Yousuf 36, Kamran Ghulam 31; Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi 3-50)

Player of the match – Shahnawaz Dahani (Pakistan Shaheens).