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Klusener is the star

Principal Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: Lance Klusener came up with an impressive all-round performance —hitting an unbeaten 63 (49b, 4x4, 2x6) and claiming three for 18 —to help ICL World XI record a come-from-behind, 12-run victory over ICL Bangladesh XI in the inaugural match of the ICL World Series at Sardar Patel Stadium (Motera) here on Sunday night.

Chasing 168 from 20, Bangladesh seemed to be racing away at one stage at 50 for one in five overs when opener Nazimuddin (20, 1x4, 2x6) treated Jason Gillespie with disdain —hitting him for two huge sixes.

Big blow

Soon, Chris Harris-led ICL World XI came back strongly despite Aftab Ahmed (29, 17b, 2x4, 2x6) too carting two big sixes — one each off Gillespie and Nantie Hayward. Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje struck the big blow packing off the dangerous Aftab, caught behind smartly by Paul Nixon.

Then, the 37-year-old Klusener struck in his first over removing Alok Kapali (1) and captain Habibul Bashar. Harris was in the act again with his gentle mix of off and leg-cutters to claim two crucial wickets including that off a well-set opener Shariar Nafees (32, 35b, 3x4).

Another fifty

Earlier, Klusener struck his fifth ICL fifty to help World XI post 167 for six in 20 overs after the slow left-arm spin combine of Mohammad Rafique and Mosharaf Hossain put the brakes to the intentions of the top order.

Though Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin looked in good touch hitting a breezy 27 (6x4) Rafique had him cleaned up with one that spun back sharply.

Damien Martyn (1) was a vicitm of another such delivery from Rafique. Then, it was the turn of Hossain to dismiss the well-set Nicky Boje (34, 23b, 5x4) when the batsman was smartly stumped by Dhiman Ghose.

Boje and Klusener put on a crucial 55-run stand for the fourth wicket which pulled the team out of the early blues.

The scores: ICL World XI 167 for six in 20 overs (N. Boje 34, L. Klusener 63 n.o., M. Rafique three for 20) bt ICL Bangladesh 155 for nine (S. Nafees 32, Klusener three for 18, Nicky Boje two for 23, Chris Harris two for 17).

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