COLOMBO: Pakistan Shaheens opened their defense of the Emerging Teams Asia Cup with a four-wicket win over Nepal at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground on Friday, thanks to a stellar show by pacer Shahnawaz Dahani.

Dahani snared five wickets to to help the Shaheens bundle minnows Nepal out for 179 runs while fellow fast-bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr playing an exceptional supporting role, bagging four scalps.

Despite, losing six wickets in the process, Pakistan chased down the 180-run target in nearly 33 overs, with batter Tayyab Tahir smashing 51 off 67 balls with the help of six fours.

Omair Bin Yousuf (36 off 40) and Kamran Ghulam (31 off 26) were other notable contributors for the Shaheens with the bat.

Dahani (5-38) and Wasim (4-51) had combined to leave Nepal reeling at 72-8 by the 16th over before Sompal Kami and Pratis GC (26 off 24) got together and added 58 runs for the ninth wicket.

After Pratis’ departure, Kami knitted a 49-run partnership for the 10th wicket with Lalit Rajbanshi, who scored only one run in the collaboration. Kami was the last batter to return back to the hut after scoring 75 off 101, which included nine fours and two sixes.

The Shaheens’ pursuit of the target wasn’t totally free of jitters, with openers Haseebullah Khan and Saim Ayub departing with just 50 on the board by the 10th over.

The Pakistan outfit did lose four more wickets after that but in between, Tayyab, Omair and Kamran held the fort.

Shaheens will face UAE A in their next match on July 17 at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.

Scores in brief:

NEPAL 179 all out in 37 overs (Sompal Kami 75, Pratish GC 26; Shahnawaz Dahani 5-38, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 4-51); PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 181-6 in 32.5 overs (Tayyab Tahir 51, Omair Bin Yousuf 36, Kamran Ghulam 31; Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi 3-50).

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023