Pakistan
rout Netherlands
Afridi's fireworks has all SSC aglow
By Bernie Wijesekera
Pakistan's exciting bowling all rounder Shahid Afridi batting
with charm and aggression had all SSC aglow when he provided
the fireworks making 55 runs in 18 balls (with six sixes and
four fours) to steer his team to a nine-wicket win over Netherlands
in a Group 'D' ICC Championship trophy, match at Maitland Place,
yesterday.
Pakistan's
man of the match Shahid Afridi hits a six during one
of the preliminary pool matches between Pakistan and
Netherlands in the ICC Champions trophy at SSC grounds
yesterday. Pakistan won the match by nine wickets. Pic
by Ishara S.Kodikara |
Netherlands
batting first ran into a storm against the fiery bowling of
Waqar Younis and 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akthar and lost
four wickets in quick succession - the top order back in the
pavilion for 24.
Akthar
steaming from the Press Box End had Bunge well held in the
slips for one, in the bowler's second over. Worse was to follow
Feiko, was brilliantly run out by Afridi with a direct hit
to the 'keeper's' end. Younis operating from the Pavilion
end in his fifth over inflicted a 'double assault'.
Bas Zuiderent
was out to a sharp catch taken by Younis Khan in the cordon.
In the next delivery Waqar had Jan Mol's fence shattered with
a beauty of a delivery. At this stage Tim de Leede was joined
by Van Troost. They made a recovery of sorts with a gutsy
fifth-wicket stand of 55 runs. Leede batting sensibly was
Afridi's first victim plumb out in front for 24 runs in 50
balls (with two fours and a six). Two more wickets fell for
six runs 84 for 7. Van Troost was caught behind for 16 runs
(with 2 fours in 59 balls). Jacop was leg-before for a duck.
Skipper Roland Lefebve, kept the innings together with a fighting
32 n.o. Netherlands passed the 100 mark in 37 overs. Finally
all out for 136. Roland made 32 n.o. in 70 balls (with a four
and a six).
Pakistan's
run-chase was initiated by openers Imran Nazir and left-hander
Saeed Anwar. The pair made mince meat out of the Netherlands
attack. Young Nazir, waded into the attack. He blased three
fours in Edgar's first over. Followed by 18 runs in the bowler's
fourth over (four fours). The 50 came in 7.3 overs. Nazir
40 n.o. (with 7 fours).
Nazir
scored his 50 in 36 balls (with nine fours). Finally going
for a big hit was well held at deep mid-wicket by Zuiderent
for 59-1 for 85. Meanwhile left-handed Anwar played a subdued
knock. The 85-run opening stand came in 69 balls. Anwar on
28 (with 2 fours in 40 balls).
The advent
of Afridi to the crease had the Netherlands fielders running
for shelter. He made a brutal assault on the bowlers. Using
his feet Afridi went about in a business like manner. The
100 in 13.2 overs.
He caned
the second over of Raja a six over deep mid-wicket, followed
with the second successive six over long off. Then a dot ball
and another six over deep extra cover and his fourth six over
long on. All four hits cleared the stands.
It was
a run riot - 126 for 1 in 15 overs. Meanwhile pious Anwar
(now a priest like the former England captain Rev. David Shepard)
silently watched the drama.
In Raja's
third over Afridi on 49 in 16 balls could have equalled Sanath
Jayasuriya's fastest 50 in 17 balls against Pakistan in 1996
played in Singapore, but played it down and in the next smashed
Raja to win the match with a six - 142 for one in 16.2 overs.
Afridi
was 55 not out (with six sixes and four fours). He was ajudged
the Man of the Match for his outstanding all round performance.
While Anwar was not out with a sedate 28.
Bloomfield
crush Moors SC with a day to spare
An entertaining second-wicket stand between consistent run-getter
opener Sanjay Rodrigo 41 (with seven fours) and hard hitting
Saman Jayatha Bloomfield C and AC to a comfortable eight -wicket
win over Moors S.C. ina Premier league 3-day segment 'A' match
(P.Sara) continued at Braybrooke Place, yesterday. It was
all over on day two.
Bloomfield
led by stand-in Captain under -24 skipper Duminda Perera,
with an unstinted team effort outplayed the Braybrooke Place
Club. Fast bowlers called the tune for the winners. Kaushalya
Weeraratne with a match bag of 7 for 93 was the most successful
bowler.
Weeraratne
was ably supported by seasmers Gamage 6 for 73 and Nissanak
who were among the wickets. Moors batting first made 179.
Bloomfield in reply made 148. Moors S.C. in their second inning
were routed for 113 runs. Set to make 144 for an outright
win the Reid Avenue Club, made it for loss of two wickets.
Moors
SC 179 M Faizer 49, R. Herath 26, Prabath Nissanka 3 for 74,
Dharshana Gamage 4 for 46, Kaushalya Weera 3 for 57) and 113
(R Weeraratne 4 for 42) D. Gamage 2 for 27 Nissanka 2 for
25 S. Dissanayake 2 for 15)
Bloomfield
148 (T. Kandambi 57, (9x45 81 balls) L.L. Fernando 5 for 36,
C. Welagedera 2 for 42 A Bandraranayake 2 for 21) 145 for
2 in 29.1 overs (Saman Jayanatha 71 n.o. Sanjay Rodrigo 41)
Manoj,
Malintha put BRC in control. An attractive third wicket stand
of 224 runs between Manoj Mendis 140 (with 18 fours and four
sixes) and Malintha Warnapura 119 (with 18 fours in 170 balls)
helped BRC to make 330 for 5 in reply to CCC's first innings
total of 218 on day two in their Premier league three-day
match continued at Havelock Park, yesterday. CCC's first inning
featured with bright 119 runs coming from Anushka Polonnowita.
The match will be continued today.
In 218
- Anuska Polonnowita 119, D Humukumbura 28, Lanka de Silva
32, Suranjith Silva 5 for 65) BRC 330 for 5 at close (Manoj
Mendis 140, Malintha Warnapura 119, Varuna Waragoda 36, Chamara
Soysa 41 n.o., Mario Vellawarayan 2 for 62 Chamikara Mudarlige
2 for 104. -BW
Ariyawansa
56 props Joes batting
St. Joseph's College batting first helped by a bright 56 from
Tharindu Ariyawansa totalled 255 all out on the first day
in their inter school match against Dharmaraja College Kandy
played at Darley Road on Friday. The Rajans at close were
15 for one. Play will be continued today at 10 a.m. (Sunday).
Scores:
SJC 255 all out (Tharindu Ariyawansa 56, Ramesh Perera 38,
S. Costa 41, Hashan Goonetilleke 22, D. Bastiampillai 22;
Eranga Abeysinghe 2 for 59, Asanka Samarakoon 2 for 47, A.
Ekanayake 4 for 42).
Dharmaraja 15 for one at close (M. Wijekoon 10, Umesh Ruberu
1 for 2). -BW
Nilam, Kosala shine for Vidyartha
Vidyartha batted the whole of the first day in a marathon
effort against St. Anthony's in their Lemonade Trophy match
began at Katugastota yesterday.
The honours
were hogged by the tall right hander Nilam who made 111 inclusive
of 12 fours. Kosala Kulasekera, who was the more attractive
to watch, struck 8 boundaries in his 52, leg spinner Pinnaduwa
and off spinner Ashan Ariyaratne accounted for five wickets
between them.
Vidyartha
247 in 114 overs (M.M. Nilam 111, L. de Silva 12, K. Kulasekera
52, D. Wekadapola 11; S. Pinnaduwa 2/18, A. Ariyaratne 2/81).-AK
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