Pakistan fought back from a precarious position to beat Afghanistan by 72 runs, and also claim a bonus point, in the Asia Cup match in Fatullah on Thursday. Thanks to wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal, who scored an unbeaten 102 off 89 balls, they were able to recover from 117 for six inside 30 overs and put up a solid 248 for 8. In reply, minnows Afghanistan were dismissed for 176 in 47.2 overs.
A look at the statistical highlights from the match.
Mohammad Hafeez (3-29) registered his best bowling figures in the Asia Cup.
# His bowling record in ODIs in Bangladesh is excellent, having captured 14 wickets, at an average of 21.42 in ten matches.
# Ahmed Shehzad (50) registered his maiden fifty in the tournament. He has three hundreds and five fifties in a winning cause - four centuries and six fifties overall in ODIs.
# Misbah-ul-Haq posted his second duck as captain, his fifth in limited-overs’ internationals.
# On both occasions, Misbah was 'run-out' without facing a ball and became the first captain to be dismissed twice this way in ODIs. Wasim Akram and Ricky Ponting were dismissed once each in this fashion.
# Pakistan have won both their games against Afghanistan in ODIs -- by seven wickets at Sharjah on February 10, 2012, and 72 runs at Fatullah on February 27, 2014.
# Umar Akmal (102 not out off 89 balls) equalled his highest score in ODIs. He scored an unbeaten 102 off 72 balls versus Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) on August 7, 2009.
# Umar registered both his hundreds in a winning cause in ODIs. He became the first Pakistani wicketkeeper to post a hundred in the Asia Cup. Kumar Sangakkara has three, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rahul Dravid one each, as wicketkeepers, in the Asia Cup.
# Kamran Akmal is the only other Pakistani wicketkeeper to post hundreds (5) as a wicketkeeper in ODIs.
# For Pakistan, six centuries have been registered by No 6 batsmen in ODIs. Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi have registered two hundreds each and Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf have one each.
# Akmal was adjudged Man of the Match for the sixth time in ODIs.
# Samiullah Shenwari, with 35 wickets at 25.48 runs apiece in 29 matches, is the top wicket-taker for Afghanistan in ODIs.
# Dawlat Zadran (10-0-73-2) is the first Afghanistan bowler to concede 70 runs or more in an ODI.
# For Pakistan, an opening partnership of fifty or more has been registered in 11 ODIs.
Image: Pakistan's wicketkeeper Umar Akmal (left) appeals unsuccessfully for the dismissal of Afghanistan's Asghar Stanikzai during their Asia Cup match.
Photograph: Andrew Biraj/Reuters
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