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Youhana Steers Pakistan Home

Saturday, September 13 2003

Pakistan went 2 - 0 up in the SuperAsia ODI series at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, after they beat Bangladesh by 74 runs after winning the toss on a batsmen's paradise.

Yousuf Youhana top scored with a brilliant 106 laced with 7 boundaries and a huge six in the last over. He was dismissed in the final over by Mashrafe. He stroked the ball nicely all around the ground and was well supported by captain Inzamam and wicket keeper Akmal. They scored 41 and 26 not out respectively. Hafeez also scored 26 off 36 balls and was one of Mushfiqur Rahman's two wickets. The medium pacer got the two openers in his first spell. But it was a brilliant spell of off spin from part timer Rajin Saleh that hurried the Pakistanis a little. He got two quick wickets to put the hosts in some trouble. The collapse began when the skipper Inzamam was knocked over by in form Rafique at 133. The innings took a wrong turn for the hosts as wickets tumbled as within ten overs of spin, they were down to 177 for 6. But a few drop catches by the better Bangladeshi fielders threatened a bad day for the visitors. A late revival by Akmal and centurion Youhana helped Pakistan to a formidable total of 243. For Bangladesh, Rajin Saleh got 3 for 48, while Rafique and Mushfiqur got two wickets each.


Mohammad Ashraful dampened the spirit by playing an atrocious shot to get caught at first slip off Umer Gul. But that brought Saleh to the crease and he immediately took charge. He was suffering from cramps but he played a magnificent knock only to chip one straight down the throat of long on when he was on course for a big one. But before his departure, Habibul Bashar was out lbw to Abdul Razzaq and new man Tushar Imran played a horrendous shot to a middle stump half volley. A promotion in the order for fast bowler Mashrafe was of no use as he holed out to at the deep off Malik. The rest just fell like a pack of cards and only a hold up job by wicket keeper Mashud stopped the hosts from winning by more than a hundred runs.

Junaid Zia and off spinner Shoaib Malik got three wickets while the rest were shared by Gul and Razzaq.

The next game is at the Gaddafi Stadium at Lahore on Sunday, and it will be yet another tester for Bangladesh as there is a possible return for fast bowler Mohammad Sami of Pakistan.


Scores: PAKISTAN 243 for 8 in 50 overs (Youhana 106; Saleh 3/48)
BANGLADESH 169 all out in 42.1 overs (Saleh 69; Zia 3/ 21)


Cricketweb Man of the Match: Rajin Saleh (Ban).

Posted by Isam