Jayawardene and Yousuf prop up Asia
CRICKET: Mahela Jayawardene and Mohammad Yousuf hit half-centuries to
help Asia post a challenging 317-9 against Africa in the first one-dayer
of the Afro-Asia series here on Wednesday.
Skipper Jayawardene made a fluent 65 and Pakistan’s Yousuf a solid 66
after Asia had elected to bat on a good track in the day-night game.
Yousuf also became the third Pakistani batsman to complete 8,000 runs
in one-day internationals during his 74-ball knock after retired
Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar.
Debutant seamer Morne Morkel of South Africa was the most successful
bowler with 3-68. His brother Albie and Zimbabwean seamer Elton
Chigumbura grabbed two wickets apiece.
Indians Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly had put the Asian side on
course for a big total with a brisk 68-run stand for the second wicket
off just 49 deliveries.
Opener Sehwag smashed a 42-ball 45 with one six and seven fours
before inside-edging a Chigumbura delivery on to his stumps.
Left-handed Ganguly fell in similar fashion, but to Morne Morkel. The
former Indian captain hit seven fours in his 29-ball 32.
Jayawardene, who led Sri Lanka to the World Cup final in April, and
Yousuf then built on the Indian duo’s efforts as they put on 94 for the
fourth wicket to ensure the African side chased a stiff target under
lights.
The Sri Lankan hit one six and seven fours in his 62-ball knock
before being caught by Shaun Pollock off Kenyan off-spinner Steve Tikolo
while attempting a big shot.
Indians Yuvraj Singh (31) and Harbhajan Singh (20) scored valuable
runs in the closing overs to help their team cross the 300-mark.
S. Jayasuriya c De Villiers b M. Morkel 14
V. Sehwag b Chigumbura 45
S. Ganguly b M. Morkel 32
M. Jayawardene c Pollock b Tikolo 65
Mohammad Yousuf c De Villiers b A. Morkel 66
Yuvraj Singh c Kemp b M. Morkel 31
M. Dhoni run out 2
Harbhajan Singh c Pollock b Chigumbura 20
Mashrafe Mortaza c De Villiers b A. Morkel 13
Zaheer Khan not out 6
Extras (b2, lb3, nb2, w16) 23
TOTAL (for nine wickets) 317
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-36 (Jayasuriya), 2-104 (Sehwag), 3-126 (Ganguly),
4-220 (Jayawardene), 5-274 (Yousuf), 6-276 (Yuvraj),
7-279 (Dhoni), 8-307 (Harbhajan), 9-317 (Mortaza).
BOWLING: M. Morkel 10-1-68-3, Odoyo 10-0-52-0, Chigumbura 9-0-56-2,
A. Morkel 10-0-64-2, Tikolo 8-0-49-1, Kemp 3-0-23-0.
Overs: 50
BANGALORE, Wednesday, AFP
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