Three Pakistan teams in semis

All three Pakistan teams and New Zealand qualified for the fourth International Double Wicket Cricket Championship semi-finals at the Gaddafi Stadium Tuesday night.

In the first match, Pakistan Blues mauled Sri Lanka Greens by 61 runs. Wasim Akram and new partner Yasir Arafat, who replaced the grieving Shahid Afridi, scored 89 with two dismissals to get net total of 69. Yasir hit an unbeaten 56 off 20 balls while Akram scored 33.

The Sri Lanka Greens duo of Russel Arnold and Mahela Jayawardena scored 27 and 19 runs but were dismissed four times to get just 8 runs from a total score of 48.

Pakistan Greens pair of Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood worked hard to beat New Zealand pair of Chris Harris and Craig McMillan by four runs. However, the Kiwi pair entered the semi-finals as Group 'B' runner-up.

New Zealand scored 94 but their seven dismissals gave them a net total of 24. Abdur Razzaq tool five for 42.

In reply, Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq scored 58 with three dismissals to make a net total of 28.

Pakistan Whites (Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik) faced tense moments before defeating Zimbabwe (Craig Wishart, Paul Strang) by one run.

Chasing a target of 41, Pakistan Whites were only two runs away with last three balls to spare. Pakistan Whites scored 61 with two dismissals.

Zimbabwe scored 60 also with two dismissals for a net total of 40.

In the fourth match, Sri Lanka Blues beat Kenya by three runs.

Batting first, Kenyan pair of Martin Suji and Thomas Odoyo scored a net total of 36.

In reply, the Sri Lankan pair scored 59 with two dismissals to obtain a net total of 39.

In the semi-finals, Pakistan Blues were scheduled to face New Zealand Wednesday night followed by the all-Pakistan clash between Whites and). The winners are scheduled to play the final later the same night.