Date:09/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110953261900.htm

Sport - Cricket

All-round show by Rana

V.V. Subrahmanyam

AHMEDABAD: Naved-ul-Hasan Rana came up with a splendid all-round performance to fashion Lahore Badshahs’s impressive five-wicket win over Dhaka Warriors in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) at the Navrangpura Sardar Patel Stadium here on Friday.

Badshahs now has eight points from seven matches and will take on the leader Chennai Superstars in its last match.

Rana, who took three wickets, scored a breezy 64 off 32 balls after Badshahs lost opener Imran Farhat (1) in the second over. He hit six sixes — four of them off left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique — and four fours before holing out to deep mid-on in the same over.

Mohammad Yousuf (12), playing his first ICL match, began well hitting three consecutive fours off fast bowler Tapash Baisya, but was caught behind the very next ball after a lapse in concentration. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who came in at 68 for three in 5.4 overs, and Rana put on 53 runs in six overs for the fourth wicket with the skipper remaining unbeaten on 27. Earlier, Dhaka Warriors was restricted to 145 for seven despite openers Shahriar Nafees (35, 40 balls, 5x4) and Nazimuddin (20) putting on 51 in 7.4 overs. Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq struck the first blow by luring the right-handed Nazimuddin (20) out of the crease only to miss the line and be bowled. Even Shahriar Nafees failed to convert a good start as Imran Farhat brought off a fine catch in the deep off Saqlain.

The scores:

Dhaka Warriors 145 for seven in 20 overs (Shahriar Nafeez 35, Naved-ul-Hassan Rana three for 18, Saqlain Mushtaq three for 35) lost to Lahore Badshahs 149 for five in 16.1 overs (Naved-ul-Hasan Rana 64).