Whites stun Blues for championship

Pakistan Whites pair of Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik won the fourth International Double Wicket Cricket Championship, stunning the favourites Pakistan Blues duo of Wasim Akram and Yasir Arafat in the final by two runs at Gaddafi Stadium Wednesday night.

Earlier, both the semi-finals were played. In a most thrilling game, Pakistan Whites beating the strong Pakistan Greens pair of Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood on the spin of coin. Both teams scored 80 runs each.

Chasing a target of 81, Pakistan Whites were cruising comfortably at 78 without any loss with just three balls left. However, the match took a turn when Shoaib was caught off the fourth ball, which reduced the total to 68. On the next two deliveries Shoaib Malik struck two sixes to level the scores.

Shoaib scored 53 off 24 balls. Imran Nazir made 39 off 26balls.

Earlier, Azhar Mahmood blasted 73 off 33 balls while Abdur Razzaq scored 20.

Wasim Akram and Yasir Arafat defeated New Zealand pair of Craig McMillan and Chris Harris by four runs in the other semi-final.

Batting first, New Zealand made a net score of 36. McMillan scored 35 off 26 balls while Chris Harris hit 28 without being dismissed.

Wasim Akram conceded only 15 runs in four overs to claim two wickets.

Chasing 37 for victory, Pakistan Blues made a bad start when Akram was dismissed twice which reduced the total to -2. Akram and Yasir Arafat eventually reached their target, scoring 40 for two dismissals. Akram scored 40 off 31 balls.

In the final, the Pakistan Blues piled up 87 without any loss in their allotted eight overs. Akram scored an unbeaten 44 off 27 balls while Yasir hit 42 off 21 overs.

Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik, who lost the group match to the same pair, rose to the occasion by striking 89 without any dismissal.

Imran Nazir hammered 45 off 26 balls while Shoaib Malik contributed 37 off 22 balls.

The Pakistan Whites won a prize of US$6,000 while the runners-up, Pakistan Blues, received $4,000.