The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Indians stumble at final hurdle

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 07, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Indians stumble at final hurdle

Vijay Lokapally

ABU DHABI: The ghost of the Gulf returned to haunt India as Pakistan `A' peaked superbly to lift the inaugural BSNL EurAsia Cup cricket title at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Friday.

Aided by a professional century from skipper Hasan Raza (Man-of-the-match and Man-of-the-series), Pakistan emerged a comfortable winner by 36 runs.

The Indian openers Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan fell to indiscreet strokes. Sodhi, promoted in the order, made a gallant attempt, but poor planning marked the Indian run-chase.

Sodhi (70, 83b, 4x4, 2x6) and Venugopala (69, 99b, 4x4, 1x6) were clueless in the middle overs against off-spinner Muhammad Hafeez and leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad. After a partnership of 147 runs, they left in succession, leaving too huge a responsibility on Dinesh Kaarthick and Rohit Sharma.

The scores: Pakistan `A': 288.

India `A': R. Uthappa c Haq b Gul 23, S. Dhawan c B. Khan b Niazi 17, R.S. Sodhi c Haider b Amjad 70, Venugopala Rao st Haider b Amjad 69, D. Kaarthick b Arafat 11, R. Sharma c Umar b Amjad 14, S. Badrinath c Yousuf b Arafat 6, P. Chawla c Gul b Amjad 1, V.R.V. Singh c Raza b Gul 7, R. Jadeja (not out) 5, R.P. Singh c Arafat b Gul 4; Extras (b-1, lb-3, nb-3, w-18) 25; Total (in 47.5 overs) 252.

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-42, 3-189, 4-192, 5-212, 6-219, 7-221, 8-231, 9-240.

Pakistan `A' bowling: Niazi 9-1-43-1, Gul 9.5-0-37-3, Arafat 9-0-49-2, Amjad 10-0-68-4, Hafeez 10-0-51-0.

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