Tons of joy for Pakistan in warm-up

Shehzad, Misbah score centuries to crush Bangladesh.

DHAKA:

Ahmed Shehzad and Misbahul Haq hit centuries as they steered Pakistan to a morale-boosting 89-run victory over co-hosts Bangladesh in a World Cup warm-up match.

Pakistan scored 285 for nine in their 50 overs before skittling out Bangladesh 196 in the 42nd over, with the hosts losing their last three wickets for the addition of just two runs.

Bangladesh were put on the back foot from the start as they lost opener Tamim Iqbal when Abdul Razzaq knocked over his bails with the very first delivery.

Earlier, Shehzad hit 103 off 122 balls with a six and nine boundaries while Misbah smashed a 100-ball century with four sixes and eight fours.

Pakistan play their first World Cup Group A match against unfancied Kenya on February 23.

Bangladesh meet fellow co-hosts India in Group B in the opening match of the tournament.

Ponting left with a  headache

Half-centuries by the South African openers set up a surprisingly easy seven-wicket victory over Australia giving the holders’ skipper Ricky Ponting much food for thought.

Chasing a modest 218 for victory, South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith (65 retired) and Hashim Amla (60 retired) survived a barrage of leg-before and caught-behind appeals by Brett Lee and Shaun Tait early on before settling down to put on 131 runs.

Although the match was only a friendly, the result which comes hot on the heels of Australia’s 38-run defeat to India on Sunday will concern Ponting ahead of the tournament opening on Saturday.

Gritty Ireland pip Zimbabwe in warm-up

Andre Botha and Kevin O’Brien hit resolute half-centuries to carry Ireland to a final over, four-wicket victory against Zimbabwe.

Botha top-scored with 79 and O’Brien hit an unbeaten 62 as Ireland chased Zimbabwe’s competitive 244 for eight with three balls to spare in the thrilling match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur.

The duo upstaged Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura, who slam-med eight fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 103 off just 81 balls to lift his side from a shaky 74 for four after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

Former captain Tatenda Taibu chipped in with a valuable 45 up the order after the early dismissals of openers Brendan Taylor and Charles Coventry.

Ireland seamers Trent Johnston and Botha picked up two wickets each in what was their last practice match ahead of the tournament beginning in Dhaka on Saturday.

Dashing Doeschate helps Dutch sink Kenya

Ryan ten Doeschate hit a brilliant 98 not out to guide the Netherlands to a two-wicket upset win over, sending a timely warning to tournament rivals.

Ten Doeschate’s 92-ball knock, spiced with four sixes and three fours, helped the Netherlands chase a challenging 264-run target after being down and out at 130 for seven with part-time spinner Steve Tikolo taking four wickets. Serene Waters had scored a brilliant 126 not out for Kenya.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2011.