Pakistan teams get off to winning start

All three Pakistan teams won their matches on the opening day of the International Doubles Wicket Cricket Championship under floodlights at the Gaddafi Stadium Sunday night. In all, four matches were decided on the opening day.

Pakistan Blues, featuring Wasim Akram and Shahid Afridi, defeated Zimbabwe by 30 runs.

Pakistan Blues scored 105 in the allotted eight overs, but with six dismissals could get a net total of 45. Shahid Afridi scored 58 (five sixes, three fours, 26 balls, two dismissals) while Wasim Akram made 45 (two sixes, five fours, 23 balls) but was dismissed for four times.

For Zimbabwe, Craig Wishart got four for 54 while Paul Strang took one for 50 runs.

In reply, the Zimbabwean pair could muster a total of 55 but their four dismissals made the net total of 15 only.

Shahid Afridi also excelled with the leather, taking two for 34 while Wasim Akram claimed one for 19.

Pakistan Whites team of Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik inflicted 94 runs defeat over the Sri Lankan Greens side.

Batting first, the Sri Lankan pair of Russel Arnold and Mahela Jayawardena got a small total of minus one after scoring 69 with seven dismissals.

Shoaib Malik got four for 31.

Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik batted with great authority scoring 93 without any dismissals. Imran Nazir was more aggressive scoring 56 runs (four sixes, four fours, 30 balls). Shoaib Malik scored 29 (four boundaries, 21 balls).

The Pakistan Greens team of Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq earned a facile 81-runs win against Kenyan pair of Thomas Odoyo and Martin Suji.

Kenya scored 56 but with threedismissals to get a net total of 26.

Azhar Mahmood took two for 24 while Abdur Razzaq finished with one for 32.

In reply, Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood plundered 107 without any dismissal. Abdur Razzaq scored 67 (three sixes, nine fours, 31 balls). Azhar Mahmood made 27.

In an high-scoring match, New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka Blues by 22 runs.

Batting first, Sri Lankan pair of Arjuna Ranatunga and Upul Chandana got a total of 80 with two dismissals for a net total of 60.

The Kiwi pair batted commendably, scoring a net score of 82 after two dismissals. Craig McMillan blasted 61 (five sixes, four fours, 22 balls, one dismissal). While Chris Harris scored 38 (three sixes, two fours, 25 balls, one dismissal).