Second Twenty20 International: Cricket Web XI vs Pakistan
at Fardin Qayyumi CC
Scorecard
The second of the Twenty20 exhibitions at Goffmouth was closer, but the Cricket Web team prevailed on the back of a magnificent innings from Sean Fuller. Earlier, Pakistan had been lifted by 23-year-old debutant Khalid Latif, who registered a careless career-best 84 not out.
Cricket Web got a decent start, with Nasir caught by Kearsley in the second over and Yousuf run out in the third. However, from 14 for two, the bowlers failed to apply the pressure. Misbah and Shoaib failed to take the opportunities occasionally, resulting in four maidens, yet Khalid was usually brutal at the other end, smashing eight fours and two sixes and being particularly harsh on Pickup's leg spin. Sean Fuller showed what was to come later, as he was the only bowler to pick up a wicket after the early assault, courtesy of Misbah's slog, and he also exited with a creditable economy rate.
The Webheads were careless in response, with many batsmen settling in with an easy boundary, then getting out just as the score had ticked over into double digits. Akhtar was the pick of the bowlers, nabbing Stedman with a beauty that was held by Nasir at slip, and shortly after Chaulk suffered a run out, bringing Fuller to the crease. He played circumspectly at first, which proved to be wise as more wickets clattered about him, leaving Mørk to help with the rescue mission - at 85 for five, Cricket Web required 65 from 48 balls, and much of the hitting would have to come from the all-rounder.
The Pakistani bowling attack offered much of a muchness, however, easing the task. Fuller smashed four fours in a solitary brutal over from Tanvir, which brought the target down to the a managable level, and though Mørk was the second run out victim from decent Pakistani fielding today, he had helped with a vital 53 and assured there was a chance of platform. Clapham played singles off his two balls, as required, and Fuller hogged the strike to complete the sweep with a daunting reverse shot off Akhtar.
Pakistan 149 for three (20)
Latif 84*, Shoaib 30*, Misbah 24; Fuller 1/17 (4)
Cricket Web XI 150 for six (19.3)
Fuller 72*; Akhtar 2/22 (3.3), Gul 1/27
Cricket Web XI won by four wickets
Man of the Match: S. E. Fuller (Cricket Web XI)