WI reach 265-6 on opening day against Dr AQ Khan XI
By Our Sports Reporter
RAWALPINDI, Nov 11: Sherwin Campbell and Phil Simmons hit half-centuries as West Indies reached 265 for six on the first day of the four-day match against Dr. A.Q Khan XI at KRL Cricket Ground here on Tuesday. The way Stewart Williams (48) and Campbell (76) opened the West Indies innings after electing to bat, it looked as if they weretrying to make up for lost opportunities during the quadrangular. Scoring at a blazing pace, they put up 50 runs off 34 balls.
Williams was particularly ruthless as he dispatched four consecutive boundaries off right-arm medium-pacer Abdul Razzaq, who gave away 34 runs in his opening spell of four overs.
Left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed removed Williams leg before with the total on 67. Williams hit nine boundaries and a six during his 43-ball. In the afternoon session, the visitors collected 85 runs while losing two more wickets. First to go was Shivnarine Chanderpaul who survived a few anxious moments before being bowled by Naeem for a 39-ball 27. Off-spinner Murtaza Hussain then had new batsman Roland Holder leg-before-wicket for one.
Simmons joined Campbell and the pair batted sensibly to lift their side out of trouble. Campbell was impressive and showed a touch ofclass and scored at every opportunity to reach 50 off 139 balls. At tea the tourists were 182 for 4.
After the interval, Naeem, bowling his third spell, finally claimed the prized wicket of Campbell by forcing him to miscue a hook stroke which was well held by Bazid Khan at mid-wicket. The opener's 76 off 209 balls with ten boundaries consumed 271 minutes.
Then in the penultimate over of the day, Simmons, who had survived two dropped chances, was removed by Shakeel Ahmed. The hard-hitting batsman had reached 50 off 97 balls with a towering six over long-off during a Shakeel Ahmed over that produced 13 runs.
Day 2 Report
WI amass 464 as Hooper makes unbeaten 146
By Farhana Ayaz
RAWALPINDI, Nov 12: While enjoying a good batting practice, the West Indies amassed 464 all out with skipper Carl Hooper scoring a dashing 146 not out in their first innings against Dr. A. Q Khan XI here at KRL Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Hosts replied courageously and were 142 for 1 at close. Opener Babar Zaman (62) and cousin Bayazid Khan (23) were at the crease. Hooper and Rawl Lewis resumed at the overnight total of 265 for 6. Hooper was in devastating mood, racing to 50 off 66 balls and reaching the 100 mark off 130 balls. There were 19 boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 146 off 168 balls, lasting for 254 minutes. The overnight pair shared a 162 runs seventh wicket stand. Left arm spinner Shakil Ahmed and medium pacer Abdul Razzaq came under fire. At lunch the tourists were 397 for 6.
The partnership was finally broken by Razzaq when skipper Naseer Ahmed held a diving catch in the second slip. Hooper joined by Ian Bishop continued the onslaught. Jaffar Nazir who had so far remained wicketless, had Bishop leg before at 22 while Razzaq removed Franklyn Rose and Mervyn Dillon at nought.
Hosts opened their innings 35 minutes before tea. Openers Babar Zaman and Muhammad Naveed played cautiously but did not hesitate to punish the loose balls. Both, Ian Bishop and Franklyn Rose struggled with line and length, sent in eight no-balls. Bishop was hit for 10 runs in the 7th over while Rose conceded 19 runs in the 12th over. The opening pair scored 68 when Naveed was removed leg before by Dillon at 38 off 43. He hit four fours and a six.
Both Babar Zaman and Bayazid Khan played fluently from there onwards. Babar hit seven boundaries and a six to reach 50 mark off 82 balls laced with seven well timed smashes to the fence and a six at mid on.
Day 3 report
Windies lead AQ Khan XI by 337 runs
By Farhana Ayaz
RAWALPINDI, Nov 13: The West Indies gained an overall lead of 337 runs with nine second innings wickets in hand against Dr. A. Q. Khan XI here on third day of the four-day game at KRL stadium on Thursday. At close of play the tourists were 140 for 1 in 31 overs, P. Wallace (69) and nightwatchman Rawl Lewis (08) were batting. On the third day, the Carribbean trio of Bishop, Rose and Dillon came into full bloom demolishing the A Q Khan batting line up in stride. The hosts were bundled out for 267 in 74.1 overs with the trio sharing three wickets each.
Resuming at 142 for 1, the A Q Khan XI got the first blow in the first over. Dillon bowled Babar Zaman (62) on his fourth delivery. Overnight batsman Bazid Khan (39) and skipper Naseer Ahmed (49) raised the total to 184. But then Franklyn Rose removed Bazid and Iftikhar Hussain (0) off two consecutive deliveries in the 51st over which was followed by the collapse. At lunch AQ XI were 216 for 5. Any chances of bouncing back were nullified as they lost the last five wickets for only 51 runs about twenty minutes before tea. The game time was rescheduled for 5:15 but play ended ten minutes to five because of bad light. Gaining a first innings lead of 197, the tourists firmly built it on with P. Wallace and S. Campbell hitting half centuries and an opening stand of 119 runs.
The two put 100 up for the Windies in 17.4 overs spanning 89 minutes. Both the openers were in determined form and played some exciting strokes round the fence. Campbell reached his 50 off 48 balls in 82 minutes. He was clean bowled by off break bowler Murtaza Hussain. Campbell hit nine boundaries in his 54 off 69 balls. Wallace particularly punished left arm spinner Shakil Ahmed from his first over when he hit him for two consecutive boundaries.
Later, he collected another 10 runs off Shakil in the 21st over with a six over long off and a square cut for four. Wallace got his 50 off 64 balls.
Day 4 report
Wallace hits 142 as WI opt for batting practice
By Farhana Ayaz
RAWALPINDI, Nov 14: The four-day match between the West Indies and Dr. A.Q Khan XI ended in a draw here at KRL Cricket Stadium on Friday. The hosts were required to score 501 runs in 33 overs on the fourth and last day after the West Indies had declared their second innings at 303 for 4 about 50 minutes after lunch. The tourists had gained a 197 runs first innings lead when A.Q Khan XI was bowled out for 267 on the third day. The West Indies did not enforce the follow-on to allow its batsmen batting practice.
Resuming at the overnight total of 140 for 1, both Philo Wallace and nightwatchman Rawl Lewis received no threats as they shared a solid 135 runs second wicket stand. Wallace who got out cheaply in the first innings, hammered an electric century off 138balls spanning 195 minutes. His innings included14 boundaries and 2 sixes. Giving full support partner Lewis (59), got to his 50 mark off 120 balls consuming 120 minutes. At the total of 254 Lewis was caught behind off Murtaza Hussain. Playing lavishly, Shivnarine Chanderpaul yet again failed to make big innings. He was the third man out, leg before to pacer Jaffar Nazir for 21 off 31, hitting five strokes to the fence.
Soon after the break, Jaffar secured another success when misjudging a delivery going to the leg side, Wallace gave a simple catch to Muhammad Naveed in the covers. Wallace's exciting innings of 142 off 204 balls was laced with 19 fours and 2 sixes. His stayed at the wicket for 296 minutes. Roland Holder (08) and Phil Simmons (05) were batting when skipper Carl Hooper declared the innings at 303 for 4 in 80 overs. Needing 501 runs in 33 overs, the hosts lost opener Babar Zaman (10), clean bowled by Franklyn Rose on first ball of his third over with the total at 20. Soon after partner Muhammad Naveed (16) followed, caught behind by Wallace off Simmons. Skipper Naseer Ahmed joined Bayazid Khan which produced a quick fire 57 runs partnership. Naseer's exciting 45 off 38 included 8 boundaries and a six. Trying to hit Lewis over the fence he was caught at backward point by Simmons. Still 393 runs behind with seven second innings wickets in hand, play with the mutual agreement of the two skippers ended in the 10th mandatory over.
Bayazid Khan who has been named captain of Pakistan under-19 scored 30 off 75 balls laced with five boundaries. Iftikhar Hussain also remained unbeaten with 2. The total was 107 for 3 in 28 overs. Manager of the Caribbean squad, Clive Lloyd said they got good overall, especially, batting practice ahead of November 17th first Test against Pakistan at Peshawar.