Today saw the final practise game between the NCA XI and the Afghanistan national team. The NCA XI easily won the first 3 games (2 one days and 1 T20) and their new captain Nasir Jamshed was looking to make it 4 in 4. The final game was also a T20 and the visitors were determined to walk away with a result today.

Afghanistan’s talented batting all-rounder Mohammad Nabi top scored with a rapid 48 off 25 balls (including 5 fours and 2 sixes) to help his team to a score of 162/6 in 20 overs. Nabi was ably supported by Karim Sadiq’s 31 runs off 26 balls and Raees Ahmadzai’s 23* off 20 balls.

Aizaz Cheema and Mohammad Irfan opened the bowling for the NCA XI with Irfan only conceding 17 runs off his 3 overs for no wicket. Cheema wasn’t as frugal as Irfan, conceding 32 runs off his 3 overs also without a wicket.

The NCA XI reply was cut short due to the loss of early wickets, both openers (Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shahzad) left early on and were soon followed by Sohail Ahmed. Batting at number 4, Babar Azam brought some stability to the proceedings with his 29 runs off 27 balls but it wasnt enough. The NCA XI were bowled out in the 19th over for 123 runs which was 40 runs short of the target.

Afghanistan’s 6’3 opening bowler Shapoor Zadran is used to towering over everyone but today he was only the second tallest man on the pitch. The NCA’s Mohammad Irfan may have made Sharpoor feel short but that didnt stop him conceding only 8 runs in his 3 overs and picking up a wicket too. Medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf did the main damage taking 3/12 in his 2 overs to kill the NCA’s hopes.

Shoaib Akhtar and Azhar Ali didn’t take part in this game.

[b][u]Afghanistan Innings - 162/6 (20 overs)[/b][/u]

[b]Runs Balls 4s 6s Player[/b]

48 25 5 2 Mohammad Nabi
31 26 4 1 Karim Sadiq
23* 20 3 0 Raees Ahmadzai
21 19 2 0 Noor Ali

[b][u]NCA XI Bowling[/b][/u]

[b]Ovrs Runs Wkts Player[/b]

3 32 0 Aizaz Cheema
3 17 0 Mohammad Irfan
3 16 2 Usman Qadir
3 26 1 Raza Hasan
3 16 1 Sohail Ahmed
2 18 1 Aitzaz Khokhar

[b][u]Pakistan Innings - 123/10 (19 overs)[/u][/b]

[b]Runs Balls 4s 6s Player[/b]

10 3 1 1 Nasir Jamshed
6 5 1 0 Ahmed Shahzad
0 1 0 0 Sohail Ahmed
29 27 4 0 Babar Azam
15 23 4 0 Ashraf Ali
23 15 2 0 Adnan Raza
16 18 0 0 Adnan Akmal
12 11 0 1 Usman Qadir

[u][b]Afghanistan Bowling[/b][/u]

[b]Ovrs Runs Wkts Player[/b]

4 31 2 Dawlat Ahmadzai
3 8 1 Shapoor Zadran
3 14 1 Mohammad Nabi
3 13 2 Hamid Hassan
2 12 3 Mirwais Ashraf