Haris leads the way before bowlers seal emphatic win for Pakistan
Mohammad Haris hit a return-to-form half century before
bowlers routed Oman as Pakistan opened their Asia Cup campaign with a 93-run
win over Oman in Dubai on Friday.
Haris anchored the innings with a 43-ball 66 as Pakistan
scored a below-par 160-7 against Asia Cup first-timers.
But spinners Sufiyan Muqeem (2-7) and Saim Ayub (2-8) and
seamer Faheem Ashraf (2-6) atoned for unimpressive batting as Oman --
comprising of six expats from Pakistan -- folded for 67 in 16.4 overs.
Hammad Mirza, top-scored with 27 off 23 balls which
contained a six and three boundaries.
Earlier, Oman's spinner Aamir Kaleem (3-31) and pacer Shah
Faisal grabbed (3-34) and kept Pakistan batters under control.
It was Haris who helped Pakistan -- who won the toss and
batted -- with his second score of over fifty in T20Is.
Haris added a damage-repairing 85 for the second wicket
with Sahibzada Farhan after Faisal dismissed Ayub with the second ball of the
innings.
Farhan scored a run-a-ball 29 with one boundary.
Faisal also dismissed Hasan Nawaz (nine) and Mohammad Nawaz
(19) to cap an impressive T20I debut.
Pakistan added 49 in the last five overs, with Fakhar Zaman
remaining unbeaten on a 16-ball 23.
Pakistan now face arch-rivals India in a high-voltage Group
A match in Dubai on Sunday.
Bangladesh play Sri Lanka in Group B match in Abu Dhabi on
Saturday.