Aslam, bowlers set up Pakistan A win

Pakistan A 170 (Aslam 101*, Subhan 56) beat Kenya 167 (Gurdeep 55, Hasan 4-20, Talha 4-32) by nine wickets
Scorecard

The contest might not have had international status - it was more of a dress rehearsal for the PCB to host an international match in the future - but the first game of the five-match series between Pakistan A and Kenya was witnessed by more than 10000 spectators amid tight security around the Gaddafi Stadium.

In the end, Sami Aslam's unbeaten century and Raza Hasan's 4 for 20 helped Pakistan A to an emphatic nine-wicket victory in Lahore. The hosts lost only one wicket during their 168 chase, with Aslam (101*) and Fazal Subhan (56*) piling down the middling total with 99 balls to spare.

The day started with breeze and moisture on the pitch, and Pakistan A, having won the toss, put Kenya in to bat. The visitors struggled and fell to 46 for 3 within 12 overs. Gurdeep Singh and Nelson Odhiambo held the ground together with a 76-run partnership and guided Kenya past the 100-run mark, but Mohammad Talha returned for his second spell to break the stand in the 29th over when Odhiambo miscued a short ball to fine leg.

Talha was in control of his line and length throughout the game, and had earlier struck on the fourth ball of the day, making the opener Alex Obanda edge an outswinger behind to the keeper. Kennedy Owino (11) was the next man to go after he poked a swinging delivery outside off and was caught at second slips. Gurdeep kept the score ticking with singles and doubles, but Kenya continued to lose wickets at regular intervals at the other end, as Hasan and Shahzaib Ahmed (2 for 42) snared six wickets between them to dismiss the visitors for 167.