Practice match ends in a tie

Lahore, Sept 24: The day and night cricket match between the Pakistan XI and the Rest of Pakistan XI at the Qadhafi Stadium ended in an exciting tie on Sunday when Shoaib Malik was last batsman to be caught at the cover boundary on first ball of the last over bowled by Saqlain Mushtaq at the total of 245.

The second wicket partnership of 102 runs on 141 balls between Saleem Elahi and Salman Butt paved the way for a fightback by the Rest of Pakistan XI.

Salman Butt scored 59 on 102 balls (including four fours) and Saleem Elahi hit 58 on 75 deliveries (having six fours). Imran Abbas contributed useful 33, Shoaib Malik 26 and Imran Farhat 15.

Test off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq did the most damage by capturing four wickets for 41 runs. Azhar Mahmood took two wickets and Waqar Younis and Arshad Khan took one scalp, each. Two batsmen were run out.

Earlier, a fine fourth wicket partnership of 85 runs between Yousaf Youhana and Faisal Iqbal helped Pakistan Eleven hit a total of 245 all out with a ball to spare.

Yousaf hit another enterprising knock of 68 on 99 balls, studded with one six and five fours. Faisal Iqbal contributed 45 on 74 balls. He hit three boundaries. Ejaz Ahmad scored 32 on 46 balls, studded with six boundaries.

Azhar Mahmood contributed 23 on 18 balls and Abdul Razzaq hit a big six in his score of 21. He played 19 balls.

Saqlain Mushtaq hit a swashbuckling knock of 18 on only nine deliveries. He hit a towering six and a boundary on two consecutive balls, entertaining a small holiday crowd.

Danish Kaneria took three wickets for 39 while Shoaib Malik and Muhammad Sami claimed two wickets, each, conceding 43 and 70 runs, respectively. Kabir Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad took a wicket, each.