Pakistan captain Younus Khan praised Shahid Afridi as a “fantastic performer” after the all-rounder starred with both bat and ball in their side's convincing win over New Zealand in the first one-day. Afridi hit a fiery 50-ball 71 to help Pakistan post 287-9 in its allotted 50 overs before taking two wickets to restrict its rivals to 149, helping Pakistan win the match by 138 runs at Abu Dhabi Stadium. “Afridi is a fantastic performer and it's wonderful to see him perform like this,” said Younus after the win. “He batted like he always does, aggressive, and when he has the ball in his hands he aims to take wickets.” The victory gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match one-day series, relocated to the United Arab Emirates after New Zealand refused to tour Pakistan over security fears. The remaining two matches will be played here Friday and Monday. After the one-day series the two teams move to Dubai, where they play two Twenty20 internationals on Nov. 12 and 13. Afridi was well supported by wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, who hit an equally aggressive 43-ball 67, while opener Khalid Latif laid the foundations with a sedate 64. New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said Afridi and Akmal were the difference. “Obviously we couldn't execute as well as we could, Afridi and Akmal played some aggressive cricket and we conceded far too many runs in the last 12 overs, and that was the real reason we lost the game,” said Vettori. Vettori hoped pacemen Kyle Mills and James Franklin – who both missed the first match through injuries – will be available for the next game. “They bring quality to the attack, “Vettori said. Henriques out of series Australia suffered another injury setback ahead of Thursday's fifth one-dayer against India with all-rounder Moises Henriques ruled out of the remainder of the series with a hamstring injury. A Cricket Australia (CA) statement Wednesday said Henriques had suffered the injury during the fourth game Monday. The tourists are struggling to put up 11 fit players for Thursday's day/night game in Hyderabad after Henriques, who flew in as replacement for the injured James Hopes, joined fast bowler Peter Siddle on an expanding injury list. Siddle will return home after experiencing stiffness in his left side in the fourth one-dayer. All-rounder Andrew McDonald and fast bowler Burt Cockley will join the team as replacements before the sixth one-dayer in Guwahati Sunday, CA said. “Moises complained of some discomfort after the fourth ODI in Mohali. He had an MRI scan when we arrived in Hyderabad which showed signs of injury to the right hamstring,” the statement said. “The medical staff believe the injury will not recover sufficiently for him to participate in the last week of the tour and therefore we have decided he will return to Australia where he will continue his treatment.” Strike bowler Brett Lee, all-rounder Hopes and stand-in wicketkeeper Tim Paine have already returned home with injuries while first choice wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, vice-captain Michael Clarke and left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken did not make the tour due to injuries.
