PCB XI skittled out for 48 as Lankans triumph again

Karachi, Feb 10: Sri Lanka cantered to a farcical nine-wicket victory over a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) XI in the second one-day practice match at the UBL Sports Complex here on Thursday.

The Sri Lankans followed by their impressive eight-wicket triumph over another PCB XI in the first match at the National Stadium a couple of days ago with a more emphatic victory in an encounter that lasted a mere 39.5 overs and produced just 97 runs for the loss of 11 wickets. The match was over at 12.35 p.m - 25 minutes before the official lunch break.

Taking advantage of such an early finish, both teams agreed to entertain a large crowd with a 25-over per side exhibition match.

Mercifully, the match remained incident-free except for the fact that home team arrived at the ground without their supply of match balls. They were saved from further embarrassment by the generosity of the Sri Lankans who provided the PCB XI with the balls. Later a consignment was rushed to the ground from the National Stadium.

The PCB XI were bundled out for only 48 runs in 33 overs after being sent in to bat by Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya on what proved to be a double-paced muddy track.

But the unpredictable nature of the pitch was no excuse for the young PCB XI batting line-up to cave in for such a meagre score. Most of the batsmen brought their downfall by playing atrocious shots against a bowling that did not look menacing enough.

Left-handed opener Taufeeq Umar attempted went for a wild drive off the match's fourth delivery but only managed to provide diminutive wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana with a simple catch off left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas who was playing in first game of the tour after recovering from a bout of influenza.

Fellow pacer Pramodya Wickremasingle, also making his first appearance on the tour, removed Imran Farhat (caught and bowled) and Younis Khan (fending a good length ball to gulley) in quick successions. Both scored three apiece.

The major damage was done by the spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Upul Chandana who between them captured seven wickets for 24 runs in 19 overs. Both managed to extract appreciable turn from the responsive pitch.

Leg-spinner Chandana bowled Yasir Hameed with a flipper.

Hasan Raza scratched around for 46 deliveries to make 18 - the only double-figure score in the innings - until he tried to paddle-sweep Muralitharan and was caught at short fine-leg by Indika de Saram. His knock included a four.

Wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat was the only other batsman to hit a boundary in his score of eight off 20 balls.

PCB XI's misery was further compounded by a long tail with skipper Saqlain Mushtaq batting at seven. The lower half contributed just five runs between them.

Chandana finished with four for 12 in nine overs. Seasoned off-spinner Muralitharan bowled with usual economical self to concede only 12 runs in his quota of 10 overs while picking up three wickets.

Shahid Nazir dismissed Kaluwitharana with the first ball of his opening over after Jayasuriya had thrashed three successive fours off Kabir Khan.

The visiting team needed only 6.5 overs to achieve their target of 49. Jayasuriya lashed seven fours in a making an unbeaten 35 off 24 deliveries.

There for some consolation for the PCB XI when they scored a seven-wicket win in the exhibition tie.

Batting first, Sri Lanka collected 153 for three in 25 overs with useful contributions from Kaluwitharana (49) and Marvan Atapattu (44). Saqlain took two for 29.

Younis Khan struck an undefeated 68 off 58 balls with three sixes and four fours while Taufiq Umar made 56 as the PCB XI won with three balls to spare. Paceman Ravindra Pushpakumara bagged two for 22.

Sri Lanka now prepare to face Pakistan in the first One-day International at the National Stadium on Sunday.