Disability cricket: Alam, Qureshi crack tons in Pakistan win

England outclassed by 79 runs in first one-dayer of disability series.

DUBAI: Pakistan outplayed England by 79 runs in the first of three one-day matches in the Disability Cricket Series between the two teams with Husnain Alam and Matloob Qureshi starring with centuries at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy Oval ground in Dubai.

Alam, who lost his left foot in a mine blast, cracked 136 off just 105 balls with the help of 19 boundaries and a six, while Qureshi whose right hand had to be amputated following a road accident, hit an unbeaten 110-ball 113, as Pakistan put up 285 for five in their allotted 40 overs. The duo put on 233 for the second wicket in a spectacular batting display after opener Altaf Ahmad (4) was trapped leg-before by England captain James Williams, who finished with figures of two for 61.

Chasing a difficult target, England batsmen took up the challenge with openers Gordan Laidlaw (23) and 16-year-old Callum Flynn (32) putting on a 72-run partnership.

However, after their departure England kept losing wickets at regular intervals before Mathew Askin (30*) and Liam Thomas (23*) put on an unbeaten 47 for the seventh wicket as they took the score to 206 for six in their allotted overs. For Pakistan Amer Ahmed picked up two for 37.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2012.