Nov 03: Bhatia, Butt shines in warm-up match
Pakistan started off their India tour on a winning note by beating Delhi Ranji team by 7 wickets with all ease in their warm-up match prior to their five match ODI series here on Friday.
Pakistan won the toss and put Delhi into bat. Pakistan reduced the hosts to 46 for four by the end of 12th over before containing them to 213 for nine in the stipulated 50 overs.
Delhi ’s southpaw Gautam Gambhir (4), who was leading the team in the absence of Virender Sehwag, was trapped in front by Umar Gul at the score of 7 in the very second over.
Later Shikhar Dhawan (52) and best batsman of the match Rajat Bhatia (75) provided some resistance and steadied the innings after stitching a 91-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Both the batsmen got run out in search of quick runs and due to some fine fielding efforts by Pakistani fielders, as they were on target everytime they hit on stumps.
Pakistan ’s vice-captain Younus Khan was declared the best bowler of the match, as he picked up two wickets in two balls in the 12th over of the innings. First he trapped Aakash Chopra (16) in front of the wicket and then he castled Mithun Manhas for a duck in the next ball.
Shoiab Akhtar was well negotiated by the Delhi batsmen, as they were feeling no pressure of him. Dhawan pulled him one over the park on a free hit. He was not bowing to his full strength. The Rawalpindi Express didn’t bowl at a great speed though.
Umar Gul who opened the Pakistan’s account looked impressive and can step into the shoes of Mohammed Asif in his absence. Left-arm spinner Fawad Alam didn’t turn too much to disturb any batsmen and appears no threat to Indian batsmen in the upcoming series.
Since the match had no competitive interest, both teams decided to use 13 players each. As usual Shoaib Akhtar was getting the biggest cheers every time he came to bowl or stepped out of the pavilion.
More than 15,000 people thronged the stadium to have glimpse of their neighbouring country’s stars. With the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) deciding to make entry free, stands on the A and B wings were packed before the start of the match. People formed long queues outside the stadium early in the morning and police had a tough time to control the rush. The finicky cricket lovers had to face some lathicharge to watch the match but they were no short of gusto to get inside the stadium.
Chasing the scanty target of 214 Pakistan team were never looked in trouble and achieved the required runs in 42.3 overs for the loss of 3 wickets. Salman Butt was named Man of the Match for his 83 off 84 balls. Pakistan lost Kamran Akmal in the last ball of the first over when he was adjudged lbw on Kunal Lall’s delivery.
Opener Imran Nazir got out after a 22-ball 34 runs cameo. He was caught at mid on by Bhatia of Amit Bhandari’s delivery. For Delhi Bhandari bowled a superb spell of 7 overs at a stretch conceding only 25 runs and picked up a wicket.
Misbah-ul Haq was brilliantly caught at widish mid-off by skipper Gautam Gambhir diving to his left. Misbah (39) batted patiently in his 92-ball knock. Later Yaseer Hameed joined in the party in the middle, after Butt retired himself, and scored 33 runs of 43 balls to take Pakistan home. Fawad Alam finished the proceedings in style with a boundary.
Delhi was playing without Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra (both injured) and Virender Sehwag, who lost his father few days back. Mohd. Yousuf did not take the field for Pakistan.
Overall it was a good practice match for both the teams as Pakistan is starting their campaign on November 5 against India at Guwahati while Delhi will take on Rajasthan in their Ranji season opener on Sunday at the same venue.
PAKISTAN TEAM CONDOLE SEHWAG FATHER’S DEATH
Later in the evening after the match Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and manager Talat Ali visited Virender Sehwag at his residence at Najafgarh to condole the death of his father on behalf of the Pakistan team. Sehwag’s father passed away on Tuesday following a heart attack.
“It was our duty to be with Sehwag’s family in their hour of grief,” Malik said after meeting the members of the bereaved family.
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