1st ODI: Misbah, Bowlers Set up Comprehensive Win for Pakistan

Misbah-ul-Haq’s majestic half-century and a disciplined bowling display helped Pakistan to script a comprehensive 96-run victory over Scotland in the first one-day international of two-match series at Grange Cricket Club Ground, Edinburgh on Friday.

The skipper hit run-a-ball 83 under troubling circumstances to help the tourists manage 233-7 before a mighty Pakistani bowling attack bundled the hosts out for 135 in 39.4overs.

Pacer Junaid Khan was the chief-in-destroyer of minnows’ batting line with the figures of 3-19. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal conceded 25 runs for as many wickets.

Reaching 52-1 in thanks to the levelheaded batting display from Kyle Coetzer (32) and Josh Davey (20) after the cheap dismissal of Neil Carter, the hosts might had been dreaming about a famous upset but Pakistan made a remarkable comeback to shatter their hopes.

The hosts failed to recover after the dismissal of Coetzer and Davey in successive overs and crumbled. None of their other batsman failed to demonstrate resistance.

Ehsan Adil triggered the Scottish collapse by scalping the crucial wicket of Davey, edging him behind the stumps to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal before Mohammad Hafeez dismissed Coetzer in the similar fashion.

Moneeb Iqbal suspended the tumble of wickets for six overs before eventually getting run-out while taking a risky single. Ajmal further extended the Scottish misery by removing Preston Mommsen (15), Richard Berrington (10) in his alternate overs.

Junaid snared David Murphy (7) and Majid Haq (0) leg-before on successive deliveries to put hosts at the verge of victory before Ajmal scalped Robert Taylor in the similar fashion to wrap the things up.

Earlier, Imran Farhat (49) and Nasir Jamshed (20) got Pakistan off to a steady start and shared 50 runs for the first wicket before latter perished to Taylor. Mohammad Hafeez (18) failed to snap up his run dearth in competitive cricket and departed to pavilion, holing out an easy catch to Davey off Majid Haq at covers.

Pakistan’s troubles further increased when Asad Shafiq (7) and Farhat, who managed five fours in his 73-ball vigil, departed in five balls.

This time Misbah came to rescue the innings and steadied the ship with his classical temperament. The hosts, however, continued to enjoy the flurry of wickets on the other end.

Umar Amin (3) and Kamran Akmal (12) failed to develop a strong association with Misbah before skipper found an able ally in Ajmal (28).

The couple stitched up 51 runs for the seventh wicket before Iain Wardlaw uprooted the stumps of Ajmal.  Misbah’s knock was studded with three boundaries and two sixes.

The second and final ODI between the two sides will be played at the same venue on Sunday.