Afridi & Aaqib win double wicket final (26 Apr 1997)

26 April 1997

Afridi & Aaqib win double wicket final in grand style

By Ilyas Beg

LAHORE, April 25: Excelling both in batting and bowling, the Pakistani pair of Shahid Afridi and Aaqib Javed won the first International Floodlit Double Wicket Cricket Championship in a grand style, defeating South African duo of Louis Koen and Adam Bacher by 51 runs in the final at the Qadhafi Stadium on Saturday night.

After winning the toss, The Pakistani duo opted to bat first and hit a record, grand total of 140 runs. Despite being out six times, the Pakistanis set a daunting task of scoring 81 runs for a win for the South African. But the visitors crumbled under the pressure of tight bowling of the Pakistanis. The South African pair could score 89 runs but was dismissed six times and had net total of 29. Thus the South Africans side was beaten by a big margin of 51 runs in the all-important match of the championship. A large crowd of 24000 braved the sweltering weather and many youngsters ran on to the ground to congratulate the Pakistani players immediately after the competition was over.

Shahid Afridi hit a whirlwind knock of 87 on 38 balls. However, he was dismissed five times during his hard and high hitting which made the cricket-lovers mad with joy. Shahid hit ten huge sixes and four boundaries to be declared "Man-of-the-Match". Shahid Afridi also received the "Man-of-the-Championship" award from the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zulfiqar Ali Bokhari. The Pakistani pair was awarded $ 4000 for winning the competition.

Aaqib Javed hit five boundaries and two sixes in his knock of 47. He was out once and played 23 balls.

The South African Louis Koen was dismissed twice. He scored 52 runs on 29 deliveries. Koen hit four boundaries and three sixes. Bacher scored 36 runs on 32 balls. He hit four fours. The unlucky Bacher was dismissed four times and that brought the downfall of the South African side. The runner-up pair of South Africa was awarded $ 3000. The championship was sponsored by Pepsi-Cola International.

Pakistan outplayed New Zealand, winning by a wide margin of 49 runs while South Africa drubbed Sri Lanka by 30 runs to move into final of the competition.

Both the Pakistanis batted brilliantly to put the New Zealand pair under tremendous pressure. Shahid Afridi, in his belligerent style hit nine sixes and three boundaries. His domination of the bowling was complete as he plundered 74 runs on 27 balls. Shahid was dismissed only once on the fifth ball of the seventh over. Aaqib Javed, for a change, also looked in punishing mood. He hit three big sixes and two fours. Aaqib collected 36 runs on 21 balls without getting out. The Pakistani pair hit a record, grand total of 112 and due to one dismissal, had a net total of 102.

The New Zealand pair wilted under pressure of a big target of 103 runs for a win. Stephen Fleming was dismissed once while collecting 39 runs on as many deliveries. Fleming hit one six and five bondaries. Simon Doull tried hard but was dismissed thrice while scoring 48 runs on 28 deliveries. He hit five huge sixes and three boundaries. The Kiwis scored a grand total of 93 and after deduction of 50 runs, had a net total of 53. The New Zealanders lost by a wide margin of 49 runs. Aqib Javed got three wickets besides scoring 36 runs to be adjudged "Man-of-the-Match". Shahaid got one wicket.

The South Africans planned their win in a sensible manner. Although Sri Lankans managed to score a grand total of 92, yet they were dismissed fibe times. and had a net total of 42. Both Koen and Bacher dismissed them twice, each. Chandana scored 55 runs on 26 balls. with the help of four fours and as many sixes. Wickremasinghe hit four fours in his score of 31, made on 22 balls. He was dismissed twice.

Needing 43 runs for a win, the South African pair batted with coolness and devotion without getting out even once. It managed to score 72 runs in eight stipulated overs to coast to a creditable 30-run win. Louis Koen scored 45 runs on 29 balls, hitting one six and seven boundaries. Adam Bacher hit three boundaries in his score of 20. He played 25 balls. For his all-round performance, Koen was adjudged the "Man-of-the-Match".

Source:: Dawn (https://xiber.com/dawn/)