Pakistan qualify for U-17 Asia Cup final

Karachi, July 23: Pakistan, as expected, moved into the final of the Under-17 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament after chalking up a crushing 10- wicket victory over the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) at the National Stadium here on Sunday.

In fact, the second semi-final proved to be a mismatch as the hosts totally outclassed the relatively inexperienced ECB side.

Had Pakistani bowlers not conceded as many as 36 extras, the match could have been over well before the scheduled lunch interval.

However, openers Khalid Latif and skipper Salman Butt, who had carried Pakistan to 48 for no loss in nine overs prior to lunch, completed the formalities within 20 minutes after the break as the home side reached 89 in 15 overs in reply to ECB's 85 all out.

Left-handed Salman Butt won the Habib Oils Mills Man-of-the-Match award for his unbeaten 55 off 49 deliveries. His knock was studded with 10 fours.

Khalid Latif ended on 28 not out off 38 balls with four boundaries.

Though, Pakistan won the match, their remaining batsmen were deprived of invaluable practice out in the middle ahead of Tuesday's final against the impressive Sri Lankans.

In the league matches, the Pakistani middle-order was found wanting on several occasions against some innocuous opposition.

Salman Butt, no doubt acting on the advice of team's manager and coach, chose to field first after he had won the toss in the morning.

What followed in the next 140 minutes can be described as carnage of the ECB team by the Pakistani youngsters.

Pace duo of Altaf Hussain and left-armer Najaf Shah sliced through the top-order batting to leave ECB tottering at 36 for five in the 10th over.

Only Mohammad Abdullah Mazhar managed to reach double figures by making 15 off as many balls while captain Mohammad Usman hit two fours - the boundaries in the 29-over innings.

The Pakistanis were generous in conceding 26 wides with leg-spinner Zaheer Maqsood, quite surprizingly, bowling nine of them. He was also guilty of overstepping three times.

Off-spinner Munir Ansari, who remained wicketless, gave away only nine runs - five of them wides - in six overs.

Pakistan's catching on Sunday was quite brilliant with Salman Butt taking three catches, including a stunning one at slip when Sunil Suresh went for a wild slash off Zaheer Maqsood.

Altaf and Zaheer claimed three wickets apiece for 13 and 20 runs respectively. The remaining wickets were evenly shared by Najaf Shah and the left-arm slow bowler Pir Zulfiqar Ali.