Pakistan beat India in thriller

FARIDABAD (India) - Man of the Match Asad Laghari helped Pakistan handicapped cricket team beat India by four wickets in a last-ball thriller to go one-up in three-match One-day international here at Raja Nahar Singh Cricket Ground on Thursday. Pakistan needed 179 runs target for victory in 30 overs but the visitors started off to bad start and lost opener Adeel Khan on the third ball. Asad joined Alamghir and steadied Pakistani ship and added 134 runs for the third wicket. Pakistan needed just 41 runs off 36 balls for victory but India brought fast bowler Rajesh and he first removed the dangerman Asad at his personal score of 73 runs and then send Alamghir back to pavilion. Pakistan lost four quick wickets on the same total while Saqib Inayat, Tauqeer and captain M Fayyaz went out on duck. Rajesh brought back Indians into game with his fine spell and it felt that the hosts heading towards victory. Nehar Alam thwarted their hopes and kept his cool at a time when the wickets were tumbling at the other end. Pakistan lost their sixth wicket at 157 requiring 32 runs for victory in 3 overs. Nehar brought Pakistan closer to victory as they needed 12 runs for victory in the last over. Indians brought their prime bowler Iqbal to bowl the final over but Nehar along with Sher Ali spoil Indian efforts and helped team to snatch thriller against India.Earlier, after winning the toss Indians openers put on 40 runs for the first wicket but two quick wickets halted their run and they lost two quick wickets at 40, But Indians middle order batsmen help their team to post 178 runs in 30 overs. Tusar (35), Iqbal (24), Rawat (23) and Chaple (22) played well. For Pakistan, left arm spinner Shujaat Ali Muzaffar got 3-32, Sher Ali took 2-27. Haryana State Minister for Sports Sukhbir Katariya was the chief guest on the occasion. The match was reduced to 30 overs as the officials could not manage to start the match in time. Both the teams and the spectators were left with red faces as they remained in scorching heat waiting for the national anthems to be aired and arrival of the chief guest. After a delay of one hour and 30 minutes, the match finally started. The jubilations erupt in the Pakistan camp as all the officials including PCAPH chairman Abbas Hashmi, Nasir Mehmood Ch, Naveed Malik, Ishfaq Chattha, Sheikh Abdul Waheed, Raja Imran, Waqar Ahmed, Syed Aamir Ali, Nisar Mirza, Abbas Mumtaz and all the players bowed down the ground to say thanks to Allah Almighty for providing them with this memorable victory against India. Meanwhile, some emotional scenes were also witnessed during the first ODI between Pakistan and Indian Handicapped cricket teams as Pakistan contingent feel very proud when their national anthem was played in the stadium as the pack to capacity Nehar Singh Stadium stand in the honour of Pakistan anthem on Thursday.The ground was filled by the students and office holders of Satyug Darshan Trust which is helping PCCAI in organizing Pak-India handicapped cricket series.Nehar Singh Stadium hosted an international match after a gap of 6 years as the last match was played between India and England. The ground was in a dilapidated condition having no scoreboard. The crowd supported both teams and remained seated till the final delivery was bowled while Indian players, officials, crowd and media persons highly appreciated Pakistan team’s performance.

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