|
Sharjah: Emirates India opening batsman Bakthiyar Palekar hit a fighting century but failed to stop Emirates Pakistan from scoring an exciting 20-run win in the opening match of the Alam Steel four-nation cricket tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Pakistan posted a massive 283 for nine in 50 overs mainly due to India's poor fielding. They dropped at least seven catches and paid the price for it.
Palekar cracked 113 runs, studded with nine boundaries and two sixers, but except for a 98 run partnership with Vikrant Shetty (47), none of the other batsmen rose to the challenge.
Pakistan won the toss but India's opening bowlers Zaheer Mohammad and Nitin Gopalakrishna prevented them from getting off to a good start. Despite openers Amjad Javid and Arshad Ali being dropped, Mohammad dismissed Javid for two. Arshad too fell, caught behind off Gopalakrishna for 15.
Anwar Shaiman and the UAE skipper Saqib Ali steadied the innings. Shaiman played some lovely shots that made even former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who watched the action from the pavilion, applaud in appreciation. The pair put on 106 runs for the third wicket.
Ali looked set for a century till Vikrant Shetty bowled him for 81. Ojas Mehta too clean bowled Shaiman for 63.
Former UAE captain Khurram Khan chipped in with an elegant 35. Lower order batsmen Mohammad Naeemullah and Nasir Aziz too helped Pakistan swell the total despite Gopalakrishna's four-wicket spell.
Indian opener Prasanth Braggs lasted only 11 balls. Swapnil Patil and Palekar took the score to 79 before Naseer Aziz trapped Patil leg before for 22. Shetty and Palekar steadied the innings through a fight partnership but Fayed Ahmad won a leg before decision when Shetty was three short of a well deserved half-century.
Brief scores
Emirates Pakistan bt Emirates India by 20 runs. Emirates Pakistan 283 for 9 in 50 overs (Anwar Shaiman 63, Saqib Ali 81, Khurram Khan 35, M. Naeemullah 31, Nasir Aziz 27, Nitin Gopalakrishna 4 for 66, Vikrant Shetty 2 for 49) Emirates India 263 in 49.1 overs (Bakthiyar Palekar 113, Vikrant Shetty 47, Naseer Aziz 2 for 32, Arshad Ali 2 for 41, Fayyaz Ahmad 3 for 48) Man of the match: Bakthiyar Palekar.
|
