The Hindu : Youhana adds insult to Murali's injury

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 18, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Youhana adds insult to Murali's injury

Yousuf Youhana

Sharjah April 17. Yousuf Youhana hit a glorious 129 off 131 balls as Pakistan took advantage of a shoulder injury to Sri Lanka's star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan to pile up 295 for six from 50 overs in the Sharjah Cup one-day final here on Wednesday.

Youhana celebrated his 100th one-dayer with eight boundaries and three sixes and opener Imran Nazir smashed 63 off 61 balls after captain Waqar Younis won the toss and elected to bat in the day-night international.

But it was Younis Khan's 66 off 71 balls and his 155-run stand for the fifth wicket with Youhana that enabled Pakistan build a huge score.

Muralitharan was rushed to hospital with torn ligaments in his left shoulder, raising doubts of his availability for next month's tour of England since the injury is serious enough to require surgery.

The off-spinner, celebrating his 30th birthday, tripped while fielding in the 11th over and hit the ground clutching his left shoulder. Team physiotherapist Alex Kontouri, who accompanied Muralitharan to hospital, said the shoulder was not dislocated but he was consulting a doctor in Australia for immediate surgery on the torn ligaments.

``We want Muralitharan to have the surgery as quick as possible and may send him to Australia soon,'' said Sri Lankan cricket official Michael Tissera.

Officials, however, refused to say if Muralitharan would be available for the three-Test series against England starting on May 17 — exactly a month from now.

Pakistan, meanwhile, recovered from the loss of opener Shahid Afridi and Rashid Latif by the seventh over to set Sri Lanka a challenging target of almost six runs an over.

Youhana and Nazir put on 85 for the third wicket, before Pakistan slipped again when Nazir was bowled in leg-spinner Upul Chandana's first over and Inzamam-ul Haq was run out for 12. Younis and Youhana, however, flayed the depleted Sri Lankan attack as Muralitharan watched helplessly from the dressing room after returning from hospital.

Left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa, who removed both Youhana and Younis off consecutive balls in the final over, finished with three for 63. But Abdul Razzaq prevented a hat-trick by smashing the last ball for a boundary. — AFP

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