Dramatic one-wicket win keeps Pakistan alive in U19 tri-series hosted by Zimbabwe

• Usman Khan takes 4/37. Sayyam and Daniyal two wickets each.
• Chasing 227, Pakistan lost nine wickets, winning with 3 balls to spare.
• Farhan (65), Ahmed (31) added 89 runs. Hamza finished with 68* to seal the win.

HARARE: A four-wicket spell from Usman Khan, supported by half-centuries from captain Farhan Yousaf and Hamza Zahoor, led Pakistan to a tense one-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the second match of the U19 tri-series hosted by Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

Batting first, Afghanistan’s batting unit folded for a paltry 226 in 50 overs despite Osman Sadat’s anchor half-century.

The opening batsman remained the top scorer for Afghanistan with a reserved 75 off 106 deliveries, with four fours and a six.

Apart from him, captain Mahboob Khan (49) and Faisal Shinozada (31) could contribute significantly to Afghanistan’s total against an Usman-led Pakistan bowling.

Usman led Pakistan’s bowling with four wickets for just 37 runs in his 10 overs, followed by Mohammad Sayyam and Daniyal Ali Khan with two each, while Ahmed Hussain chipped in with one.

The Green Shirts made hard yards in pursuit of the 227-run target as they lost nine wickets in the process and prevailed with just three balls to spare.

The Asian champions got off to a dismal start to the run as they lost their top batsmen, including Sameer Minhas (nil), inside 13 overs with just 42 runs on the board.

After the early failure, captain Farhan joined Ahmed in the middle, and the duo batted sensibly to anchor the run chase with an 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

The crucial stand culminated in Farhan’s dismissal in the 31st over, followed by two more wickets in quick succession as Pakistan slipped to 149/6 in 35.1 overs.

Farhan made a 78-ball 65 while Ahmed scored 31 wickets from 56 deliveries.

Wicketkeeper-hitting Hamza then took charge of Pakistan’s chase and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly while losing partners at the other end at regular intervals.

The right-hander wore nerves of steel under pressure and eventually led his side to the line with an unbeaten 68 off just 51 deliveries, with eight fours and a six.

Salam Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan, taking four wickets for 44 runs in his 10 overs. Zaitullah Sahin took two, while Nuristani Omarzai, Wahidullah Zadran and Uzairullah Niazai could claim one each.

After a triumphant start to the U19 series, Pakistan will face Zimbabwe at home in their next match, scheduled to be played at the same ground on Monday.