Zadran, Atal help Afghanistan notch up second win on the trot

Ibrahim Zadran (65) and Sediqullah Atal (64) smashed fiery fifties as Afghanistan mauled Pakistan by 18 runs to notch up a second consecutive victory in the tri-series at the Sharjah Stadium.

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Their 113-run stand for the second wicket was the cornerstone of Afghanistan's innings which propelled them to a fighting total of 169/5.

Pakistan were off to a stuttering start as they lost the opener Sam Ayub for a duck with 10 runs on the board.

The trio of Afghanistan spinners Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed wreaked havoc after pace spearhead Fazalhaq Farooqi and ignited a skid.

Farooqi had Ayub caught by Gurbaz to give Afghanistan the first breakthrough before rattling the stumps of Sahebzada Farhan to make it 29/2.

After that, Pakistan kept on losing the wickets at regular intervals. Only Fakhar Zaman and captain Salman Agha showed some resistance to ignite a brief optimism.

Fakhar was sent back by Nabi before Agha was found short of ground while scrambling for a suicidal single which never existed as his Afghanistan counterpart Rashid dislodged the bails with a direct throw.

Pakistan seemed to have given up long before the match officially got over. Coach Mike Hesson's strategy of playing with a deep batting lineup did not help the cause.

Harris Rauf's late blitz of 16-ball 34, peppered with four sixes, was the only entertainment for the Pakistani fans.