Inzamam-ul Haq’s boys are a typical Pakistan side who never say die. At the Sardar Patel Stadium here on Wednesday night, they showed their fighting spirit.
Abdul Razzaq and Naved ul-Hasan go on a rampage as Inzamam’s team knocks off a 189-run target in less than 18 overs
AHMEDABAD: Inzamam-ul Haq’s boys are a typical Pakistan side who never say die. At the Sardar Patel Stadium here on Wednesday night, they showed their fighting spirit.
In the process, they registered a comprehensive six-wicket win to stay alive in the Indian Cricket League 20s World Series.
Set a formidable target of 189, the Pakistanis knocked off the runs with more than two overs to spare. Naved ul-Hasan Rana (74 off 38) and Abdul Razzaq (73 n.o. off 45) made mincemeat of the World’s bowlers among whom were players like Jason Gillespie, Andrew Hall and Nantie Hayward. Coming together early in the innings, the duo took the World by storm with a flurry of shots on either side of the wicket. Razzaq, who had promised a better show after his team went down to ICL India in the first encounter, started with two successive boundaries off Gillespie. That set the tone for an enterprising chase which culminated with an astounding win for the Pakistan side.
Pakistan scored 24 runs off the first 10 balls, with Imran Nazir (15 off 7) leading the way. After he perished, his partner Imran Farhat (12) followed suit with the total reading 38 for two. From then on, Razzaq and Naved took charge.
Earlier, ICL World openers slammed half centuries as their team posted a healthy 188 for three. Murray Goodwin continued his good run with a well-made 52 while Damien Martyn, accompanying the Zimbabwean in the absence of regular opener Ian Harvey, hit an unbeaten 63, after their team was put into bat by Inzamam. Goodwin made his intentions clear in the first over itself when he cut Mohammad Sami through point. He went on a rampage in Abdul Razzaq’s second over scoring 12 runs.
Inzamam introduced his strike bowler Naved ul-Hasan Rana and Goodwin welcomed him whacking three boundaries. Inzamam tried to put brakes on the ICL World’s march by bringing in off-spinner Arshad Khan. But Goodwin did not spare him either. Soon he completed a well-deserved 50. Goodwin was shown the door by Riaz Afridi when the batsman was on 52.
Martyn, who was playing a supporting role till then, changed gears. Andre Adams sent in as a pinch-hitter, too joined the party. The duo added 29 runs before the New Zealander was castled by Shahid Nazir.
Promotion of Lance Klusener to No 4 injected the much-needed thrust in the middle of the innings for the World XI. The South African hammered two boundaries off Arshad. He then smacked Razzaq for the maximum, before perishing to Rana. He made
24. Martyn completed his half century off 39 balls.
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