Pakistan U-23 beat Afghanistan U-23 by 8 wickets in their first game of ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019

Pakistan U-23 cricket team produced a brilliant all round display to win their first game of ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019 by 8 wickets against Afghanistan U-23 at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. 

Having chosen to bat on a green wicket, the Afghanistan contingent could only get to 138 runs before being bowled out inside 43 overs. 

The openers for Afghanistan started cautiously against the seam attack and managed to see out ten overs before losing their first wicket to Amad Butt who removed Nasir Shah for 13.

This set the tone for the rest of the innings as Afghanistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals that prevented them from reaching a par score.

Wicket-keeper batsman Munir Ahmed was the only player for Afghanistan to make meaningful contributions to the total. He added 41 runs from 71 balls but found little help from his partners from the other end.

For Pakistan's side Muhammad Mohsin Khan picked up 4 wickets for only 30 runs while Kushdil Shah and Amad Butt managed to pick up two wickets each.

Chasing a moderate total, Pakistan's batsmen were rarely troubled. Their openers made steady progress throughout reaching to fifty run mark for the first wicket.

Pakistan lost both the openers in quick succession after a strong opening stand. Omair Yousuf went first for 38 and was soon followed in the dugout by his opening partner for 16.

Needing cool heads at the time, the captain Saud Shakeel and his deputy Rohail Nazir hit an unbeaten 70 run partnership to see their side through. 

Pakistan will now take on Sri Lanka in their next game on 16th November.