Date:27/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/27/stories/2006042704252100.htm

Sport - Cricket

Pakistan `A' defeats Holland

Vijay Lokapally

ABU DHABI: Pakistan `A' warmed up for its contest against India `A' with a clinical performance against Holland at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Tuesday in the BSNL EurAsia Cup cricket tournament.

The 123 - run victory came on expected lines with the Dutch learning a few lessons the hard way.

Bazid Khan, adjudged `man of the match', was the pick of the Pakistan batsmen. His unbeaten 77 off 50 balls contained 11 fours and his batting style made a big impression on the result of the contest.

Pakistan 'A', having elected to bat' found itself at 185 for four, and needed a thrust from Misbah-ul-Haq and Bazid Khan and they did not disappoint, putting on 121 runs for the unbeaten fifth wicket. Haq made 45 off 37 balls with five fours.

The target of 307 was obviously stiff for the Dutch. Openers Tom de Grooth and M. van Nierop struggled to put bat to ball, but the situation was dealt with by Atse Buurman and Daam van Bunge before they fell in succession.

Gul produced the ball of the match when he rattled the stumps with a vicious in-swinger that left Grooth in a trance.

Vidyut injured

India `A' suffered a blow on Tuesday when Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan was ruled out of the rest of thse tournament due to an injury suffered during fielding practice.

Vidyut was hit on the little left finger. Tests revealed a fracture, ruling him out of the tournament. He will remain out of action for three weeks. No replacement has been sought by the team management yet.

The scores:

Pakistan `A': Y. Hameed (run out) 25, T. Umar c Jonkman b Bukhari 62, M. Hafeez c Kervezee b van Bunge 57, H. Raza lbw b Bukhari 24, Misbah-ul-Haq (not out) 45, B. Khan (not out) 77; Extras (lb-4, nb-5, w-7): 16. Total (for four wkts in 50 overs) 306.

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-146, 3-181, 4-185.

Holland bowling: Bukhari 10-0-50-2, Ghaznavi 3-1-25-0, Borren 10-0-55-0, Jonkman 9-0-51-0, Seelaar 10-0-48-0, van Bunge 6-0-49-1, Kervezee 2-0-24-0.

Holland: T. de Grooth b Gul 1, M. van Nierop c Haider b Arafat 0, A. Buurman c Umar b Amjad 29, D. van Bunge lbw b Amjad 20, A. Kervezee b Niazi 25, P. Borren c Haider b Raza 45, M. Bukhari (run out) 5, J. Smits (not out) 9, P. Seelar st Haider b Raza 2, M. Jonkman (not out) 12; Extras (lb-20, nb-5, w-10): 35. Total (for eight wkts in 50 overs) 183.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-12, 3-67, 4-68, 5-151, 6-153, 7-160, 8-164.

Pakistan `A' bowling: Gul 8-4-15-1, Arafat 6-1-23-1, Niazi 9-1-27-1, Amjad 10-0-51-2, Hafeez 8-2-11-0, Umar 5-1-7-0, Raza 4-0-29-2.