Its Only Cricket

3rd Test: Australia wins Sydney Test (scorecard), South Africa won Test Series 2-1.. T20 & ODI series follows.
Current Cricket Series : South Africa vs Australia, West Indies vs New Zealand. Coming Up : India in NZ 2009.

Filed under Afro-asia cup

Their shirts were low quality, their fielding edge-y. that left-arm spinner impressed again but pace bowling wasn't special... they were Asia team.

They all looked the same, they all fought hard. Their total was small, but courage to make a match out of 109 ~ took my heart way.. they were Africa team.

Even toss went against the innocent looking Africa XI, who were captained by little known Kenyan bat - Tanmay Mishra. After Solid 20 for first wicket, African team fell to 4 for 43 n then 65 for 6. One batsman with Indian experience - Loots Bosman, held the fort from opening the innings. Loots is also one (of few) batters to make century in twenty20 games back home in South Africa, where this form of cricket is highly famous. He made 52. Only Gulam Bodi got to 12 (other than the 12 through extras)

Asia coach Roger Binny couldn't hold himself, and changed side for a moment, encouraged visitors to make more like 120 odd. They made 109..

Opening the innings for Asian team, unlikely combination of Imran Nazir and Tamim Iqbal came out. Target was small, so rackless shots were allowed. Nazir fell, but little Bangladeshi lefty struck around. 22 ball 30 Tamim made before Africa team forced a twist. 3 for 34 to 4 for 61 - things got tight for Asia team, who were shown way by experienced hands of Tilakratne Dilshan and Pak captain Shoaib Mallik.

Asia XI vs Asia XI twenty20 International at Bangalore (06/05/07)
Africa XI 109 for 9 in full 20 overs.	Asia XI 110 for 4 in 15.5 overs
Gulam Bodi 12, Ouma 4, Obanda 1	Tamim Iqbal 30(22), Nazir 8, Akmal 1
Dabengwa 2, Tanmay Mishra 6 off 6	Akmal 1, Mohammad Asharful 1
Odhiambo 9, Tshabalala 2, Morkel 8	Tilakratne Dilshan 47 of 36 not out
Loots Bosman 52 off 55, 3 4s 3 6s	Shoaib Mallik 14 off 18 not out.
Sreesanth 2 for 26, Mortaza 2 for 17	Morne Morkel 1/16, Odhiambo 2/21
Asia won by 6 wickets

Notes :-
-Believe it or not, this Asia against Africa cricket series is also a cause for charity. The funds will go deep inside African countries for kids to buy cricket equipments. they say countries like Zimbabwe and Kenya has plenty of passion for cricket, but it being a costly sport, few can afford it.
-Thandi Tshabalala is one bowler I'll soon write about. But while batting in this game, he moved to his leg side - tried a swinging coverdrive before ball got past him.. the umpire (name was VN Kulkarni) called WIDE. bowler Sreesanth shouted cheating.. the case was, a ball going between wickets n batsman - can't be a wide.. but Bangalore Umpire didn't knew this rule. In fact, AV Jayaprakash (who used to be an International) made plenty of errors.
-This was first Twenty20 International played in India. Even all over sub-continent.
-No man of the match award was given. just a check of some rupees (sorry couldn't note the amount) was given to Asia captain Shoaib Mallik.. shame on whoever is hosting this Asia-Africa Cup.

All about Asia vs Africa (afro-asia)cup 2007

Imported Kiwi curators, Road roller n yes - Bangalore ready

Experience drives Asia to victory over innocent Africa

Africa slipped n slipped, but again made a match of it.

Asia XI cruise to second victory

Asia send Africa back home empty handed