The Hindu : Hameed helps Pakistan hammer Bangladesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Hameed helps Pakistan hammer Bangladesh

MULTAN SEPT. 9. Yasir Hameed blazed his maiden limited-overs international century on Tuesday as Pakistan routed Bangladesh by 137 runs in the opening one-day international of the five-match series.

Bangladesh was out of the reckoning once Pakistan posted 323 for three in front of around 25,000 spectators at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh in reply could muster only 186 before it was dismissed in 43.2 overs. Pakistan's total was three runs better than its previous best of 320 for three against Bangladesh at Dhaka last year.

The game was over when Bangladesh lost half the side by the 13th over for only 52 runs. Seamer Shabbir Ahmad and Umer Gul sent back Mohammad Ashraful and Tushar Imran without scoring while dangerman Habibul Bashar ran himself out for only six.

Abdul Razzaq then claimed two wickets in an over. He bowled debutant Razin Saleh (25) and two balls later captain Inzamam-ul-Haq neatly caught his Bangladeshi counterpart Khaled Mahmud low down in the slips.

Razzaq finished with three for 32 while part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez had as many scalps for 17 runs. Debutant 19-year-old medium fast bowler Junaid Zia, son of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Tauqir Zia, went wicketless and conceded 35 runs off his seven overs. He bowled the most expensive over of the innings — 10 runs — when top scorer Mushfiqur Rehman (36 not out) hit two boundaries off him.

Rehman and Mohammad Rafique delayed the inevitable when they put on the best partnership of the innings — 66 runs for the last wicket — before Hafeez bowled Rafique and wrapped up the innings.

Earlier, 25-year-old Hameed's belligerent 116 off 132 balls was followed by Inzamam and Younis Khan's quick half-centuries as they made 112 runs in the last 11 overs. Younis belted three sixes and four boundaries and remained unbeaten on 59 off 31 balls, while Inzamam completed his 9,000 runs in one-day internationals and was not out on 56 off 48 deliveries.

Inzamam's 65th half-century in 291 one-day internationals was one better than Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva, who retired after playing 307 one-day internationals.

Hameed, who made a sensational Test debut against Bangladesh last month with centuries in each innings at Karachi, delighted a capacity crowd with his aggressive batting after being elevated from No. 3 to open the innings.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport