Chinaman Faisal Akram bagged five wickets to help Pakistan Shaheens bowl out Papua New Guinea (PNG) for 99 and win the first one-day by 224 runs at the DXC Arena in Darwin on Tuesday.
Faisal rattled the opposition after they were set to chase 324 runs in 50 overs. The chinaman didn't let the opposition batters settle down even for a while.
Opting to bat first, openers Azan Awais and Shamyl Hussain provided a solid 86-run stand for the first wicket. Shamyl was the first batter to return to the pavilion, scoring a run-a-ball 45, which included seven fours. Captain Rohail Nazir (2, 5b) soon was sent back to the hut before left-hander Azan was joined by Wahaj Riaz. The pair knitted 57 runs for the third wicket as Wahaj (36, 35b, 2x4s, 1x6) fell to Charles Amini in the 28th over.
Azan (72, 94b, 6x4s), the highest run-getter for Shaheens, was next to go with Shaheens 170 for four in 30.4 overs. Shawaiz Irfan, who scored two half-centuries in the Top End T20 Series, went early and could score only 13 off 12 balls. Muhammad Irfan Khan, coming to bat at number five scored 41 off 40 balls, smashing four fours.
Shaheens were able to post 323 was largely due to Arafat Minhas’ quick-fire 56 off 34 balls, which included seven fours and one six. Arafat and Ahmed Khan (31, 28b, 2x4s) stitched a 74-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
For PNG, Amini was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 61.
In reply, PNG batters were never in the hunt to chase the target as they lost wickets at regular intervals and were dismissed for a paltry 99 in 22 overs.
Apart from Faisal, fast bowlers Ahmed (6-0-43-3) and Amir Hassan (6-0-24-2) shared five wickets between them.
Shaheens will now take on Northern Territory Strikes tomorrow at the same venue in a day-night contest.