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Khaleel stars for India XI

Principal Correspondent

India XI won with two balls to spare
Sathish’s cameo clinched the issue

HYDERABAD: The gamble to send Ibrahim Khaleel as opener clicked as he came up with a superbly paced half-century (63, 47 balls, 8 x 4) to fashion an exciting, four-wicket win with two balls to spare for India XI over Pakistan XI in a crucial league match at the floodlit Lal Bahadur Stadium here on Friday.

The win enabled India XI stay in contention in the ICL 20s World Series cricket championship.

Chasing a victory target of 153, India XI was in its element straight away as Vignesh flat-batted Sami over long-off for a six and then off-drove in the same over and in the next over, played an inside-out cover drive for a six off Abdul Razzaq.

Improvised strokes

Ibrahim Khaleel adapted to the demands admirably, coming up with some improvised strokes like the one over wicketkeeper — both off pace and spin bowling.

A sizzling stroke straight over the bowler and then a splendid cover-drive off Razzaq in one over stood out in Khaleel’s knock.

Just when it looked Khaleel would see his team through, he was run out trying to take a second run after steering Shahid Nazir to third man.

At one stage, 23 runs were needed from 18 balls with Stuart Binny and captain Rajagopal Sathish at the crease. Then, Sami struck, cleaning up Binny (8) to reduce India XI to 131 for five.

Later, Sathish played a cameo (29 not out, 20 balls, 3 x 4, 1 x 6) which clinched the issue for his team. He cut Sami for a four in the 18th over and in the 19th over pulled Razzaq for a boundary and played an imperious cover-drive for a six which left the Pakistan camp stunned and eventually helped India XI to a thrilling win.

Nazir sparkles

Earlier, powered by a stroke-filled knock from Imran Nazir (56, 47 balls, 6 x 4, 2 x 6), Pakistan XI scored a challenging 152 for eight in 20 overs.

With 50 coming in just five overs, it seemed the fielding side was in for a leather hunt. Abdul Razzaq treated medium-pacer Ganapathi Vignesh with disdain hitting him for three fours in his first over and Nazir launching into some extravagant strokes on either side of the wicket.

But the India XI bowlers put up a fine performance in the middle overs. Ibrahim Khaleel was brilliant behind the stumps.

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (7) was surprised by the arm ball from left-arm spinner Syed Mohammed which bounced and forced the batsman to snick into the keeper’s hands for yet another failure.

Ibrahim Khaleel effected two smart stumpings to send back dangerous Imran Farhat (6) off Ali Murtaza and later Imran Nazir off Thiru Kumaran, the latter bowling a splendid spell (4-0-20-2) against the formidable line-up.

Slow bowlers Ali Murtaza (4-0-26-2) and Syed Mohammed complemented him well.

In the final over, Shahid Nazir swung Stuart Binny for a huge six to help his team cross the 150-mark.

The scores: Pakistan XI 152 for eight in 20 overs (Imran Nazir 56, Thiru Kumaran two for 20, Ali Murtuza two for 26) lost to India XI 153 for six in 19.4 overs (Ibrahim Khaleel 63, R. Sathish 29 not out).

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