 Asia XI win Afro-Asia Cup
10th Jun 2007 10:33 IST
Agencies
Medium pacer Dilhara Fernando picked up four wickets to help Asia XI score a facile 31-run win over Africa XI and clinch the three-match Afro-Asia ODI series at the M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Chasing Asia’s 337/7, which was possible largely due to fine half centuries by Virender Sehwag (52), Sourav Ganguly (88), Mohammad Yousuf (51). Africans were in the hunt, till the 36th over, before Fernando broke the back with a four-wicket haul to complete a fine win.
The Africans collapsed from 217/4 in 36.1 overs to 263/9 in 44.1 overs before they were bowled out for 306 in 49.5 overs.
Left arm spinner Mohammad Rafique and Mohammad Asif provided admirable support claiming two wickets apiece, while Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh shared one wicket each.
After the early exit of AB de Villers (13), Vusi Sibanda (35, 39 balls, 4x4) and Boeta Dippenaar (67, 72 balls, 9x4) steered the innings with a 60-run second wicket stand in 62 balls.
The twin strike by Fernando, who got rid of Sibanda and skipper Justin Kemp (0) in a space of three balls pegged the Africans back.
Notwithstanding the double blow, Dippenaar and Boucher (73, 71 balls, 2x6, 4x4) kept them in the hunt with a calculated assault on the bowlers adding 79 in 84 balls for the fourth wicket.
After the exit of Dippenaar, Boucher then added another 58 in 51 balls with last match centurion Shaun Pollock (35, 39 balls, 4x4). But both fell trying to up the run rate, hitting to Asif at long on off Fernando and Sehwag respectively.
Amid mounting run rate, their exit virtually ended the hopes of the Africans, who threw in the towel and fell short by 31 runs.
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