ABU DHABI, (Reuters) – All rounder Shahid Afridi smashed a rapid 70 and took two wickets for Pakistan who eased to a 138-run victory over New Zealand in the first one-day international yesterday.
“(Afridi) is a fantastic performer,” Pakistan captain Younus Khan told reporters. “The last couple of years he worked well with the bowling but now his batting is there so it’s good for Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat first, recovered from an awful start to pile up 287 for nine.
Fast bowler Shane Bond dismissed opener Salman Butt and Younus without a run on the board before Mohammad Yousuf, who was dropped on 12, and Khalid Latif steadied the innings with a stand of 57.
Yousuf was run out for 30 but after Umar Akmal was dismissed for nine, Latif (64) and Afridi added 101 for the fifth wicket. After Afridi departed Kamran Akmal chipped in with an unbeaten 67, including four sixes, to lead Pakistan to an imposing total.
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan innings
S. Butt c B. McCullum b Bond 0
K. Latif b Vettori 64
Y. Khan c B McCullum b Bond 0
M. Yousuf run out 30
U. Akmal b Vettori 9
S. Afridi c Butler b Oram 70
K. Akmal not out 67
A. Razzaq c Styris b Butler 26
U. Gul run out 0
M. Aamer c B McCullum b Southee 0
S. Ajmal not out 0
Extras (lb-8 w-11 nb-2) 21
Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 287
Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-0 3-57 4-75 5-176 6-184 7-270 8-271 9-277
Bowling: Bond 10-2-61-2 (w-3), Southee 10-2-54-1, Butler 7-0-54-1 (nb-2, w-2), Oram 10-0-47-1 (w-1), Vettori 10-1-34-2, N. McCullum 3-0-29-0
New Zealand innings
B. McCullum b Gul 21
A. Redmond lbw b Ajmal 52
M. Guptill b Gul 4
R. Taylor c K Akmal b Aamer 0
S. Styris c sub b Razzaq 5
D. Vettori b Afridi 38
J. Oram b Razzaq 9
N. McCullum lbw b Afridi 0
I. Butler run out 4
S. Bond not out 4
T. Southee b Ajmal 1
Extras (1b-8 w-2 nb-1) 11 Total (all out, 39.2 overs) 149
Fall of wickets 1-30 2-34 3-35 4-50 5-119 6-139 7-139 8-139 9-144
Bowling: Aamer 7-1-15-1, Gul 6-3-24-2 (nb-1), Razzaq 9-1-38-2, Afridi 10-0-46-2 (w-2), Ajmal 7.2-0-18-2