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The Pakistanis failed to dismiss their opponents all out for the second time in three days, although they again won a warm-up fixture against the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) President’s XI at the Neerja Modi School Ground in Jaipur on Saturday.

Yesterday, they won by a six-wicket margin, after making 199-4 in just 33 overs while replying to the home team’s modest 198-4 in the full quota of fifty overs. The warm-up matches were arranged for the participating teams, before the main round of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy which begins with the first game — between India and England — at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur today (Sunday).

Pakistan, who are playing their opening match against Sri Lanka — who yesterday moved ahead as Qualifier 1 into the main round after beating Qualifier 2 the West Indies — at the same venue, had on Thursday beaten the RCA President’s XI in their first warm-up fixture by a convincing 93 runs.

Even then they had failed to bowl out their opposing side. The Pakistanis first rattled up a total of 280-8 in the fifty overs and then restricted the RCA President’s XI to 187 in their full quota of overs, but couldn’t take more than four wickets.

On Friday, the home side won the toss and batted first. After a useful start of 54 runs in 10.4 overs, the President’s XI lost three wickets with 84 runs on the board by the 23rd over. Then Rahul Kanwat and Nikhil Doru made half-centuries to raise their morale.

Kanwat’s 53 came off 93 balls with five fours and a six. Doru remained unbeaten with 51 to his name, having faced 66 deliveries and despatching five boundaries. With skipper Ajay Jadeja (19 not out), his unbroken fifth-wicket stand was worth 74 runs in 16 overs.

For the Pakistanis the wickets were picked up by pace bowlers Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi, one each. One batsman was run out.

The Pakistanis’ opening pair meant business from the start as the two hit 86 runs in the first 16 overs. Kamran Akmal hammered the top-score of 69 off a mere 49 balls with the help of 10 fours and three sixes. Mohammad Hafeez hit two fours in his 25 off 49 deliveries.

Later, Razzaq took 18 balls to make 19 with two fours and a six while Shahid Afridi’s 28 came off only 23 balls with two fours and three sixes. Faisal Iqbal (32) and Shoaib Malik (18) both remained unbeaten as the fifth-wicket stand produced 45 runs in a matter of 46 deliveries.

Source:The News

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