Intra-squad practice match: Azhar Ali guides Team Green to victory

A captain’s innings from Azhar Ali, and half-centuries from Asad Shafiq and Fakhar Zaman led Team Green to a six-wicket win over Team White at The Incora County Ground, Derby on Monday.

Chasing 352 to win the match, Team Green lost opener Mohammad Hafeez for two in the first over.

Later, Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman got together and constructed a 159-run partnership for the second-wicket. Azhar cracked 120 runs from 225 balls, hitting 10 fours before he was retired out, while Fakhar was dismissed on 99. His 128 balls innings included 10 fours and six sixes.

After the departure of Fakhar, Asad Shafiq joined in and contributed a 129-run partnership for the third wicket with Azhar. Asad was too retired out after contributing a valuable 67 runs from 95 balls, laced with nine fours and two sixes.

Iftikhar Ahmed (28) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (19) remained unbeaten as Team Green chased down the target in the 89th over.

Muhammad Musa and Shaheen Shah Afridi took a wicket apiece for Team White.

Earlier, resuming their second innings on the overnight score of 245 for five in 77 overs, Team White declared their innings on 284 for five in 83.4 overs.

Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with an unbeaten 100 off 159 balls, hitting 14 fours. Shadab Khan coming to bat at number seven chipped in with a 62-ball 39 laced with four fours and two sixes. The duo added a valuable unbroken 109-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

The two teams will now feature in the second intra-squad four-day game from 24 to 27 July at the same venue.

Scores in brief:

Team White 249 all out, 94 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 54 not out; Naseem Shah 5-55, Mohammad Abbas 3-42, Yasir Shah 2-40) and 284-5 dec, 83.4 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 100 not out, Shadab Khan 39 not out).

Team Green 181 all out, 65.1 overs (Asad Shafiq 51; Sohail Khan 5-50, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-33) and 354-4, 88.1 overs ( Azhar Ali 120 retired out, Fakhar Zaman 99, Asad Shafiq 67 retired out; Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-23, Muhammad Musa 1-41).