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Pakistan batters had a torrid time facing Afghanistan spin-bowling attack in Sri Lankan conditions where most of Asia Cup 2023 will be played. Despite a fighting knock of 61 from Imam-ul-Haq, Pakistan got all out for 201 in the opening match of the series. Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away, Shan Masood who was dropped from the ODI series scored a gutsy 96 for Yorkshire in the ongoing England Domestic One-Day Cup 2023.
Masood did not find a place in the 18-member ODI squad. It also dents his chances of playing in the World Cup as well.
The 33-year-old batter overcame a short lean patch where he registered scores of 11, 18, and 7 while leading Yorkshire After his team was reduced to 29/3 in 10 overs, Masood strung together partnerships with Matthew Revis, and Dom Bess who scored half-centuries.
Masood batted till the end and scored 96 runs from 129 deliveries including seven fours. He missed out on a half-century as Ryan Higgins trapped him in the front of the stumps with three balls left in the innings. Masood scored with a low strike rate but his 96-run knock helped Yorkshire post a respectable 253 on the board after a rocky start.
However, Masood's 96-run knock went in vain as half-centuries from Middlesex opener Joe Cracknell (87) and Sam Robson (62) helped their side chase down the total with five wickets in hand and 93 balls to spare.
Masood was dropped after he scored 52 runs from three innings against New Zealand in the ODI series earlier this year. The southpaw is yet to prove himself in the format. From nine innings, he has scored just one half-century so far.
Pakistan bowlers save Azam’s side from disappointment
On the other hand, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman and skipper Azam early in the innings. The middle order disappointed as well. Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan got good starts but could not go on to get big scores as Pakistan got all out for 201 in the 48th over.
But Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf's fifer and early strikes of Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah bundle out Afghanistan for a paltry 59 to win the game by a massive margin of 142 runs.
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