NEW DELHI: Pakistani star driver Haris Rauf claims his first 5-stroke to give Pakistan a resounding 142-run win over Afghanistan in its opening ODI at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota on Tuesday.
With this victory, Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in a 3-match series.
Rauf showed his best form in the opening ODI. His dismissal Rashid khan, among his five hits, stunned everyone, including the Afghan hitter. In a superb performance, Rauf executes a long ball, strategically throwing it around a tree stump. Rashid found himself unable to measure speed, and in the blink of an eye, Rauf’s sheer speed sent tree stumps flying, scaring everyone at the sight.
CLOCK:
In addition to Rashid, Rauf also dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbanz (18), Ikram Alikhil (4), Mohammad Nabi (7) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (4).
Rauf was awarded the Man of the Match award for a spectacular 6.2-2-18-5.
“Feeling fine, especially trying to take advantage of the conditions and make the most of it. It was a low score match but as a bowling unit we have faith and the racket. asked for hard length bowling bowls and that’s how i chose my racquet he (Shaheen) got off to a really good start and it gave me confidence before going into bowling when i played bowling, the focus is not on speed and I just try to land where I want,” Raud said after the game.
The second ODI will be broadcast on Thursday at the same location. 
Leave a Reply