Australia defeat Pakistan to bag super sixes trophy

Imran Nazir was the most expensive bowler, giving the match away to the Aussies with a costly last over.

Australia beat Pakistan in the final of the super sixes to bag the trophy after chasing a 132 run target.

Shoaib Malik led the Paksitan team in the super sixes tournament that ended today (Sunday)  in Hong Kong.

Pakistan reached the finals after beating defending champions South Africa in the semis.

Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad again performed impressively, scoring 92 runs. Pakistan looked like they had it under control till the last couple of overs.

Imran Nazir was the most expensive bowler and ended up giving the match away to the Aussies with a costly last over.

Australia took the trophy with one ball remaining in the match.

Pakistan sweep India away

Pakistan, led by Shoaib Malik, swept to a 22-run victory over arch-rivals India to be well-placed in the preliminary round of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament which saw more than three-quarters of the programme cancelled due to rain on the opening day.

Pakistan grabbed the early high ground at the Kowloon Cricket Club after scoring 78 and restricting India to just 56 runs in the four overs.

“It’s always good to start with a win,” said Malik. “For a first game, it was a good performance from the guys and I’m pretty pleased.”

Poor weather resulted in a switch to four overs per innings - instead of five - and the organisers kept their options open regarding whether the winners of each group would meet in the final tomorrow or if the top two teams move into a cross-over semi-finals.

“We cannot make that decision until we know what the weather is like tomorrow,” said tournament Director Glyn Davies. “If the rain stays away, we will play the remaining eight pool games on Sunday, with the top two going into the semi-finals. But if there are any more interruptions, we will have to go straight into the final with the winners of each pool progressing.”

All eight teams got a run on the first day with Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and South Africa joining Pakistan as winners. Sri Lanka knocked off the 77 runs needed for victory over New Zealand. Hosts Hong Kong hammered England, chasing a modest total of 61. South Africa chased down Australia’s 73-run total for the loss of three wickets.

Published in The Express Tribune, November  7^th, 2010.