Dawn Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper.

Pakistan, NZ in double wicket final

By Our Sports Correspondent

29 April 1998


LAHORE, April 29: Pakistan and New Zealand qualified for final of the second double wicket cricket tournament winning their semi-finals under lights at the Qadhafi Stadiumon Wednesday.

Pakistan outplayed South Africa by big margin of 91 runs. New Zealand managed to beat Australia by 20 runs in the second pre-final.

Surprisingly, the South Africa pair of Adrian Kuiper and Fannie de Villiers proved no match to the Pakistani pair of Shahid Afridi and Azhar Mahmood.

South Africa opted to bat first after winning the toss. The decision back fired as the South African pair could score 63 for 9. It finished with minus 27 score. Shahid Afridi bowled intelligently to have the South Africans out five times. Azhar Mahmood had them out three times while Fannie de Villiers was run out once.

Kuiper scored 35 off 27 balls with the help of six boundaries. But he was out four times. Fannie de Villers scored 22 off 23 balls. He hit one six and two boundaries. Villiers was out five times.

Having no pressure, the Pakistanis batted freely and totalled 84 for two. Shahid Afridi scored 61 from 34 balls, hitting five big sixes and as many boundaries. He was out twice. Azhar Mahmood scored 20 from 16 balls with the help of three boundaries. Having plus 64 runs, the Pakistani pair won the match comfortably by 91 runs.

Shahid Afridi was declared Man-of the-Match for his excellent all-round performance.

New Zealand played sensible cricket to find a berth in the final. After winning the toss, the Kiwi pair piled up 109 for two.

Nathan Astle scored 58 from 27 deliveries. He hit two big sixes and six boundaries. However, he was out twice. Chris Harris hit 49 off 21 balls with the help of four sixes and three fours without getting out. Martyn got Astle out on both occasions.

Needing 90 runs to win, the Australians batted rather poorly and scored 99 for three. Damien Martyn scored a 21-ball 41 balls, hitting three sixes and as many fours. Martyn was out thrice. Adam Gilchrist scored 57 from 28 balls. He hit one six and ten boundaries. Gilchrist was out once. Thus the New Zealand team won the match by 20 runs. Harris had the Australians out twice while Astle claimed one wicket.

Chris Harris was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match.


Source: Dawn
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Date-stamped : 30 Apr1998 - 10:20