BEIJING – Afghanistan-China mixed team defeated Pakistan-China mixed teamby six wickets in the third match of the Pakistan, Afghanistan and ChinaFriendly Cricketing Four Matches Series played at Jinan Middle SchoolGround, Shandong Province hereon Sunday.
The Charge de Affairs of the Afghanistan Embassy in China Mr Musa Arifi wasthe chief guest on this occasion. First Secretary of the Asian Departmentof the Foreign Ministry of the People Republic of China Mr Zhang Zhizhongand other officials were also present on this occasion.
The organizer included five each player to Pakistan and Afghanistan teamsto give the Chinese cricketers much-needed exposure of playing withinternational players from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan-China mixed team won the toss elected to bat first by setting up155 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs and Afghanistan-Chinamixed in replay chased the target in the 17.3 over for the loss of sixwickets with opener Attak hammered a cracking 38 runs including threetowering sixes and four boundaries.
The Afghanistan-China mixed team three wickets down early and thus bothAbid Muhammad and Ishaq Zozi made a good 63 runs partnership for the fifthwicket to reach to the target.
Abid scored a vital 41 runs off 34 balls with five boundaries and one sixwhile Ishaq added another 22 runs, laced with two sixes and two boundaries.Lui Young Wang (04), Liang Chen (09), Sabir (12) and Muhammad (14) not outwith one six and two boundaries were the other leading runs contributors.
Thus Afghanistan-China mixed team chased the target for the loss of sixwickets in 17.3 overs and won the match by four wickets.
For Pakistan Irfan Niazi was the most successful bowler as the pacergrabbed five wickets for 21 runs in his three overs spell, Qi Wang got onewicket for 45 runs in his four overs spell.
Earlier, Pakistan set up a good total of 155 runs for the loss sevenwickets after playing the allotted 20 overs, thank to the middle-orderbatsman Fahad Munir and Irfan Niazi who held a 65 runs partnership for thefifth wickets with Fahad made 36 including three towering sixes and oneboundary while Irfan made another cracking 29 runs with four boundaries andone six.
The opening pair of Saim Ayub and Ziao Ran Chen opened the innings forPakistan but Ziao Ran Chen went early for just two runs. Saim Ayub wasthere with his excellent batting who smashed elegant shorts all around thewicket.
Saim made a cracking 39 runs and was run out when taking a quick single.Saim hammered seven boundaries and one six in his innings. After Ziao RanChen another no. 3 batman Weiji Ye also gone early for just 7 runsincluding one boundary.
When Pakistan-China lost four wickets, both Fahad Munir and Irfan Niazicontrolled the whole trend and added some vital runs to the team total.
Fahad, who remained unbeaten, played with full command, hitting all theAfghanistan-China mixed team bowler and scored a vital 36 runs for 34 ballsincluding three towering sixes and one boundary.
Along with Fahad Irfan Niazi, the promising all-rounder scored 29 runs offjust 18 balls with four cracking boundaries and one huge six at the long-onboundary.
When Irfan Niazi caught out at the boundary, Waseem Khan, anotherall-rounder, took the charge and hit a quick-fire 20 runs laced with fourboundaries.
Waseem also delighted the sitting spectators witnessing the match from theJinan Middle School No.3.
For Afghanistan-China mixed team Zhuo Yue Chen took two wickets for 22 runsin his three overs spell, right-arm pacer from China Rui Hou took twowickets for 13 runs in his three overs spell, Muhammad Ishaq was remainedcostly, giving 33 runs in his four-over spell and got one wicket, NaveedAhmad was also giving 33 runs in his four overs spell and took one wicket.
Sabir bowled two overs, given 25 runs without taking any wicket. In theend, the chief guest gave away prizes to the players and souvenir to theofficials. Mr Zhang Zhizhong also presented souvenir to the chief guest andother officials.