KENT – Haider Ali and Saud Shakeel hit fifties to guide Pakistan Shaheens to a five-wicket win on the DLS method over the Professional County Club Select XI in the first one-day match at the Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham on Tuesday evening.
In the rain-affected match, which was reduced to 28 overs per side, Shaheens were handed a revised target of 204. During the run chase, both openers – Ali Zaryab (8) and Azan Awais and Omair Bin Yousuf were dismissed early, leaving Shaheens struggling at 32 for three in 5.1 overs.
At that critical juncture, Captain Saud Shakeel was joined by Haider Ali, and the pair took control of the innings. They played with authority and put together a match-defining 129-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Haider struck five fours and three sixes in his 56-ball 71.
After Haider’s dismissal in the 24th over, with Shaheens still requiring 43 runs for victory, Maaz Sadaqat joined the captain at the crease. However, Maaz was dismissed after scoring five off eight balls, with the visitors still needing 30 from the final 15 deliveries.
At that stage, Shahid Aziz joined Saud and the duo kept their nerves, guiding the side home on the penultimate delivery of the match. Shahid remained unbeaten on 21 off 11 balls while Saud’s unbeaten knock of 72 came off 72 balls.
Earlier, after electing to bat first, Professional County Club Select XI were bowled out for 187 in 27.4 overs. Opening batter Will Smeed was the top scorer with a 62-ball 84. Hamza Shaikh also made a notable contribution, scoring 44 off 51 balls with six boundaries.
For Shaheens, Maaz Sadaqat was the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 3 for 28. Saud Shakeel and Faisal Akram supported well with their left-arm spin, picking up two wickets apiece.
Pakistan Shaheens and Professional County Club Select XI will now feature in the second one-day match of the three-match series at the same venue on Friday.
