Prince, Pollock set up two-run win for Africa XI

CENTURION, South Africa, Wednesday (AFP) - Batsman Ashwell Prince and bowler Shaun Pollock set up a tense two-run win for an Africa XI against an Asia XI in cricket's first official inter-continental one-day international at Centurion Park Wednesday.

Left-hander Prince was the only batsman to make a half-century as both teams struggled in unfamiliar South African winter conditions in the first of three matches for the Afro Asia Cup.

Only 3800 spectators braved chilly, overcast weather in a ground with a capacity of 17 000.

Prince's 78 not out enabled the Africa XI, containing ten South Africans, to make 198 in 44.3 overs after they were sent in by Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Asia XI captain.

Batsmen continued to struggle as the Asians were bowled out for 196. Pollock took three wickets in an over to start the Asian slide after Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag put on 50 for the first wicket.

Pollock, captaining the side because regular South African skipper Graeme Smith was serving the third game of a four-match suspension for a slow over-rate in the West Indies earlier this year, finished with three for 32.

But he finished his stint of ten overs when the Asians were 129 for six, with 17 overs remaining.

With inexperienced Justin Kemp and Dale Steyn bowling at the end, the Asia XI crept closer to the target before fast bowler Steyn, making his one-day international debut, uprooted Ashish Nehra's middle stump.

In the previous over Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar hit Kemp for a straight six to take the Asians to within six runs of victory but then scooped a catch to backward point.

The exciting finish made up for an otherwise low-key start to the hastily-arranged series with the poor crowd attendance due to cold weather and an unusual starting time of noon for a day-night match timed to gain a maximum television audience in Asia.

The pitch proved helpful to both seam and spin bowlers, who were able to make the ball deviate off a course, grassy surface. The Asian innings followed a similar pattern to that of the Africans with a good start followed by a collapse.

AFRICA XI

A. de Villiers lbw b Shoaib Akhtar 24

H. Dippenaar c Sehwag b Zaheer Khan 14

J. Kallis c Nehra b Zaheer Khan 4

J. Ontong lbw b Zaheer Khan 0

A. Prince not out 78

S. Tikolo c Sangakkara b Nehra 0

M. Boucher lbw b Muralitharan 42

S. Pollock b Kumble 2

N. Boje c Sangakkara b Shahid Afridi 3

J. Kemp (sub) lbw b Shoaib Akhtar 4

D. Steyn run out (Nehra) 3

Extras (LB7, NB6, W11) 24

TOTAL (44.3 overs) 198

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-39, 2-44, 3-44, 4-53, 5-57, 6-141, 7-152, 8-164, 9-174.

BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 7.3-0-40-2 (6nb), Zaheer Khan 8-0-37-3 (2w), Nehra 5-12-19-1, Abdul Razzaq 3-0-17-0 (1w), Kumble 10-0-39-1 (2w), Muralitharan 9-1-26-1 (1w), Shahid Afridi 2-0-13-1 (1w).

Substituted (did not bat): T Odoyo.

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ASIA XI

K. Sangakkara b Kallis 35

V. Sehwag c Boucher b Pollock 21

Yousuf Youhana c Boucher b Pollock 1

Mohammad Ashraful (sub) c Tikolo b Pollock 0

Inzamam-ul-Haq c Dippenaar b Kemp 6

Shahid Afridi c Boucher b Kallis 13

Abdul Razzaq c Boucher b Boje 38

A. Kumble lbw b Kallis 24

Zaheer Khan not out 20

Shoaib Akhtar c Ontong b Kemp 15

A. Nehra b Steyn 1

Extras (LB2, NB4, W16) 22

TOTAL (48.1 overs) 196

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-50, 2-52, 3-52, 4-59, 5-89, 6-96, 7-152, 8-169, 9-193.

BOWLING: Pollock 10-1-32-3 (3nb, 1w), Steyn 9.1-2-40-1 (5w), Kemp 9-0-40-2 (1nb, 5w), Kallis 10-2-42-3 (2w), Boje 10-1-40-1 (1w).

Substituted: M Muralitharan.

Result: Africa XI won by 2 runs

Man of match: Ashwell Prince

TV umpire: K Hurter (RSA)