Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

World XI beat Asia XI by 112 runs

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • World XI beat Asia XI by 112 runs

    Melbourne: World XI captain Ricky Ponting stroked a superb 115 to lead his side to a comprehensive 112-run win over Asia XI in Monday's charity match for victims of the tsunami disaster.
    International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed announced after the game that $11 million had been raised on the day for the tsunami appeal.

    Man-of-the-match Ponting was in sparkling touch, hitting eight fours and three sixes in a game played before a sell-out crowd of 70,101 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    New Zealand all rounder Chris Cairns smashed 69 from 47 balls and West Indies captain Brian Lara scored an effortless 52 for the World XI.

    In reply to the World XI's 344 for eight, Asia scored 232 all out in 39.5 overs.

    India batsman Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 75 for Asia and his compatriot Virender Sehwag hit an aggressive 45 from 39 balls at the top of the order, including five fours and one six.

    Spinners Daniel Vettori of New Zealand (3-58) and Australia's Shane Warne (2-27) took five wickets between them for the World XI.

    Watched by an estimated global television audience of one billion, the match was the first of a two-game series. A second match will be staged on the Indian subcontinent in either February or March.

    Australia's World Cup-winning captain Ponting and test cricket's world record holder Lara were two of the big name players the crowd came to see and the pair batted beautifully, adding 122 for the third wicket.

    India paceman Zaheer Khan had struck two early blows for Asia, removing openers Chris Gayle (1) and Adam Gilchrist (24) caught behind by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.

    Lara, who hit three fours, holed out to long off off the bowling of spinner Anil Kumble at 172 for three in the 31st over.

    Ponting and the hard-hitting Cairns shared a 91-run stand from 55 balls before the Australian was stumped off Kumble at 263 for four.

    A bizarre decision to promote Australia tailender Glenn McGrath to number six failed when the lanky paceman made a first-ball duck.

    Muralitharan also removed Cairns and Matthew Hayden (2) -- the Australian opener was batting at eight -- before New Zealanders Stephen Fleming (30) and Daniel Vettori (27 not out) pushed the total over 300.

    Sri Lanka's Sangakkara gave a fine individual effort behind the stumps for Asia with three stumpings and two catches.

    India batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who could not play because of an elbow injury, made an appearance as a substitute fieldsman to the delight of the crowd, as did World XI coach and former Australia captain Steve Waugh.
Working...
X