Late recovery lifts Pakistan to 288
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Nadeem Ahmed, the left-arm spinner, sliced through the Pakistan middle-order as what was expected to be a straightforward opening encounter for the hosts threatened to become a tricky one. However, an Asia Cup-record 100-run eighth-wicket stand between Sohail Tanvir and Fawad Alam - both going on to their highest ODI scores - helped Pakistan reach 288, which could prove beyond Hong Kong's reach, according to website cricinfo.
Coming in with Pakistan at a precarious 161 for 7, Tanvir and Alam initially worked the singles, effectively employing the sweep shot. The left-arm spinners initially kept them in check but the partnership gained impetus only after the 44th over, when Pakistan had progressed to a more reassuring 219.
Tanvir raced to his maiden ODI fifty as a confident reverse-sweep, a conventional sweep and a powerful off-drive all fetched him boundaries. He holed out to long-off in the 47th but Alam, who had been subdued during the partnership, remained unbeaten to ensure the runs kept flowing and that his side weren't bowled out.
Hong Kong had earlier got off to a dream start on a blisteringly hot day in Karachi as the in-form opener Salman Butt fell in the first over for a duck. Afzaal Haider, the 36-year-old seamer, shaped the first two deliveries into the left-hander, before getting the next one to move away, inducing the outside edge. On a pitch a bit on the slower side, Haider extracted a hint of movement and troubled Shoaib Malik, who opened the innings, and Younis Khan early on.
With Pakistan on a scratchy 33 for 1 after eight overs, some loose bowling in the next couple of overs let them off the hook. Thirty runs came off them as a flurry of boundaries from Malik gave the innings momentum. He fell soon after to an athletic catch by Hussain Butt at backward point but with Younis getting into his stride and Mohammad Yousuf continuing his splendid form, Pakistan were in command at 121 for 2 after 19.
Coming in with Pakistan at a precarious 161 for 7, Tanvir and Alam initially worked the singles, effectively employing the sweep shot. The left-arm spinners initially kept them in check but the partnership gained impetus only after the 44th over, when Pakistan had progressed to a more reassuring 219.
Tanvir raced to his maiden ODI fifty as a confident reverse-sweep, a conventional sweep and a powerful off-drive all fetched him boundaries. He holed out to long-off in the 47th but Alam, who had been subdued during the partnership, remained unbeaten to ensure the runs kept flowing and that his side weren't bowled out.
Hong Kong had earlier got off to a dream start on a blisteringly hot day in Karachi as the in-form opener Salman Butt fell in the first over for a duck. Afzaal Haider, the 36-year-old seamer, shaped the first two deliveries into the left-hander, before getting the next one to move away, inducing the outside edge. On a pitch a bit on the slower side, Haider extracted a hint of movement and troubled Shoaib Malik, who opened the innings, and Younis Khan early on.
With Pakistan on a scratchy 33 for 1 after eight overs, some loose bowling in the next couple of overs let them off the hook. Thirty runs came off them as a flurry of boundaries from Malik gave the innings momentum. He fell soon after to an athletic catch by Hussain Butt at backward point but with Younis getting into his stride and Mohammad Yousuf continuing his splendid form, Pakistan were in command at 121 for 2 after 19.