Shahid Afridi's eighth five-wicket haul in one-day international cricket coupled with fifties from Younus Khan and Imran Farhat helped Pakistan register a seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the one-off One-Day International at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Playing its first-ever ODI against a full member, Afghanistan was restricted to 195 thanks to Afridi's spell.
Pakistan chased down the target with ease despite losing the top-order. Pakistan overhauled the target in 37.1 overs with seven wickets to spare to end at 198-3.
Opener Imran Farhat (52: 67b, 9x4) steadied the Pakistan chase after Mohammad Hafeez fell cheaply. Shafiq added 57 runs for the third wicket with senior pro Younus Khan.
Later it was down to the experienced pair of Younus (70 n.o.: 65b, 10x4) and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (40 n.o.) to ensure that Pakistan romped home with ease.
The Younus-Misbah unbeaten fourth wicket stand was worth 99 runs.
Earlier, Afridi, took four wickets in his first spell to derail Afghanistan - who won the toss and batted - from 54-1 to 101-5 before finishing with 5-36 in his 10 overs.
Afridi also became the second spinner with the highest one-day wickets (338) behind Muttiah Muralitharan (534), surpassing India's Anil Kumble who had 333 wickets.
But despite Afridi's brilliance, the Afghan batsmen put up an excellent show and had they not lacked experience - playing their first one-day international against a top nation - they would have scored more.
There was plenty of fireworks on and off the field as Afghan batsmen hit six sixes during their innings which delighted the bumper 15,000-strong weekend crowd - mostly Pakistan and Afghan expats.
Paceman Umar Gul provided Pakistan with the early breakthrough when he caught Noor Ali (nine) off his own bowling before Afridi dismissed Mohammad Shahzad (20), Nawroz Mangal (11), Gulbadin Naib (seven) and Karim Sadiq (40) in his first spell.
Sadiq hit two boundaries and two sixes during his aggressive 47-ball knock.
Mohammad Nabi, who scored 37 with two sixes, added 46 for the sixth wicket with Samiullah Shinwari who finished with 32 studded with four boundaries.
Gul and Wahab Riaz took two wickets each.
