LAHORE, Feb 21 (APP):Pakistan Blind Cricket team started its tour of Sri Lankan on a confident note beating the Lankan side by eight wickets in the first one day international Thursday at MCA Cricket Ground, Colombo Sri Lanka.
The touring side leads the three ODI 1-0 and the second match will be tomorrow, Friday at BRC Ground Colombo, said the information made available here by the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council.
Syed Fakhar Abbass and Shahzaib Hyder made their debut for Pakistan which won the toss and put the Lankan side into bat. Both the players were selected in Pakistan Team with their outstanding performance in recent national events. Muhammad Jamil, Head Coach of Pakistan Blind Cricket Team presented them Pakistan debut Caps.Pakistan Team bowled exquisitely and restricted the formidable Sri Lankan batting and bowled them out at 216 runs in 31.5 overs. Saman Kumara was the leading scorer for Sri Lanka with 42 runs and Silva made 26.
The debutant rookie fast bowler Fakhar Abbas (Totally Blind B1) made a strong impression in the very first game by claiming 3 wickets and other debutant and Shahzaib Hyder claimed 2 wickets. Badar Munir also bowled well and got 2 wickets.
Requiring 217 runs to win in allotted 40 overs, Pakistan team got remarkable opening stand from Mohsin Khan and Ayub Khan. Pakistan lost its first wicket in 11th over at the score of 112 runs on the board when Moshin Khan got out after scoring 69 runs. Riasat Khan also fell cheaply and Pakistan was on 136 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 13 overs.
Then came, man of the match Badar Munir and toiled Sri Lanka bowling attack to score his 50 runs off just 18 balls. That was the 3rd fastest half century in One-day International Cricket, Pakistan also holds the fastest and 2nd fastest fifty runs record made by Amir Ishfaq off 14 balls in 2014 and Abdul Razzaq off 17 balls in 1998.
Pakistan chased the target in just 18.3 overs for the loss of 2 wickets with 21,3 overs to spare. Badar Munir remained unbeaten on 64 and Ayub Khan played sheet anchor role from the other side and scored 55 not out.
