First Twenty20 International: Cricket Web XI vs Pakistan
at Fardin Qayyumi CC
Scorecard
Runs were tricky to come by in Goffmouth, as Cricket Web Blac...XI won the first Twenty20 International of their history with a disciplined bowling effort. The Pakistani tourists never got going, falling in a heap in chase of a meagre 141.
Cricket Web XI batted first, but suffered an early run out with inexplicable poor calling between Stedman and Chaulk - clearly more accustomed to the 50-over format. Gul put on some pressure with a maiden over to Stedman in the fourth, before Smith was yorked by Tanvir in the fifth over and Stedman was lbw to Arafat at the end of the sixth.
However, with the field restrictions down, Fuller and Butler managed to keep the runs flowing. Tanvir produced the second maiden of the match to Fuller, but Rehman and Arafat failed to keep things down, and Akhtar and Gul were brought back to take wickets. It worked to some extent - Butler was caught by Arafat for 36, the innings of the game including three sixes, but Fuller managed to accelerate somewhat to make a stolid 39, supported by brief appearances from Cloete and Mørk.
Kev Gough began the first over by bowling Salman Butt with his fourth ball, leaving Nasir Jamshed and Younus Khan to rebuild. They attacked Gough early on, with Nasir smashing his first ball for four, before Younus hit Clapham for six in the next over. There was a considerable flow of runs, with Fuller coming on in the seventh over with the score 35 for two.
The first ball was hit for four by Jamshed, but an attempted single had Younus run out at the striker's end, and Misbah smashed the next ball straight up - 39 for three. Captain Shoaib Malik needed to take responsibility, but after hitting two fours, he was tied down by Clapham and smashed out to Stedman at point, before Jamshed and Arafat were both stumped by Pickup.
At 67 for seven, Pakistan needed to climb a mountain, and though Kamran received a considerable amount of luck, he was unable to keep the strike rate above 80, as the bowlers got off with decent figures and Pakistan were restricted to 93 for nine.
Cricket Web XI 140 for five (20)
Fuller 39*, Butler 36; Arafat 2/34
Pakistan 93 for nine (20)
Nasir Jamshed 29; Clapham 2/15, Pickup 2/16, Gough 2/22
Cricket Web XI won by 47 runs
Man of the Match: C. R. Butler (Cricket Web XI)