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Akhtar should be ready to play in Christchurch Lynn McConnell - 22 February 2001
Pakistan's fast man Shoaib Akhtar is likely to play in Sunday's fourth One-Day International against New Zealand in Christchurch. Pakistan captain Moin Khan said after last night's 28-run victory over New Zealand that he was confident Akhtar would line up. He also said his side's last 10 overs with the bat when they added 80 runs was the main difference in the match. "The way Yosuf Youhana played today was the main difference," he said. "It was good to see him batting well. He is the main player with Inzamam in the middle order and it was a great innings from him." Youhana scored 47 runs batting down the order marshalling a rearguard action which added 51 runs off the last five overs. "It was a big total for us, when we started we thought we should achieve 230-220. There had been some concern in the Pakistan camp over the 100-run stand between Craig McMillan and Lou Vincent. "They played really well today and when we got Vincent we were a bit relaxed that we could win this game easily." Moin also praised the batting of experienced opener Saeed Anwar who had a shaky top order together while scoring 57 before being run out due to a stunning piece of fielding by a diving Vincent to the bowler Daniel Vettori. Without Akhtar the pressure went on Wasim Akram and off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to produce the goods, but they responded well. Akram took three for 41 and Saqlain three for 26 while the effort of Azhar Mahmood in getting through 10 overs and taking one for 33 was also a fine effort. © CricInfo
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