Key points
- Maaz Sadaqat shines with three wickets in thriller
- Skipper Saud Shakeel anchors chase with unbeaten 72
- Haider Ali smashes quickfire 71 with three sixes
ISLAMABAD: Maaz Sadaqat’s three-wicket haul, coupled with half-centuries from Haider Ali and captain Saud Shakeel, guided Pakistan Shaheens to a narrow one-run victory over the Professional County Club Select XI in the opening one-day match at The County Ground on Tuesday.
The match, shortened to 28 overs per side due to weather, saw the Professional County Club Select XI post a total of 187 before being bowled out in the final over.
Haider and Saud half-centuries guide Shaheens to five-wicket win
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Opener Will Smeed led the charge for the hosts, scoring a brisk 84 off 62 balls, including 12 boundaries and two sixes. He was well supported by Hamza Shaikh and Ollie Sykes, who chipped in with valuable knocks of 44 and 28, respectively.
Maaz was the pick of the bowlers for the Shaheens, finishing with figures of 3 for 28 in 4.4 overs. Saud Shakeel and Faisal Akram also made vital contributions, claiming two wickets each, while Mir Hamza and Ubaid Shah picked up one apiece.
Anchoring the innings
Pakistan Shaheens reached the total with five wickets in hand and just one ball remaining.
Captain Saud Shakeel anchored the innings with an unbeaten 72 off 72 deliveries, striking four boundaries, while Haider Ali provided solid support with a quickfire 71 from 56 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
Shahid Aziz applied the finishing touches to the chase, striking an unbeaten 21 off only 11 balls, featuring two boundaries and a six.
Tom Lawes was the most successful bowler for the County Select XI with two wickets, while Mitch Stanley, Scott Currie, and Dan Douthwaite each claimed one.
With the Shaheens taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match series, the second one-day fixture is set to be played at the same venue on Friday.
