After a dismal 2011 when he was termed the villain for dropping Ross Taylor twice behind the wickets, allowing the Kiwis to sail through in the World Cup and was later even accused of match-fixing, Kamran Akmal put perhaps the most gloomy phase of his life behind by smashing a brilliant, unbeaten 92 (50b, 5x4, 6x6) at the Premadasa to shape a five-wicket win over arch-rivals India in a warm-up game ahead of the World T20, says a report in The Times Of India.
Choosing to bat first, India raced to a massive 185 for three, in which Virat Kohli, continuing his hot streak, smashed an unbeaten 75 (40b, 7x4,2x6),while the other explosive talent in the side, Rohit Sharma, who had endured a miserable run on the same shores a couple of months back, scored 56 (40b, 6x4, 2x6).
However, despite a four-wicket haul by off-spinner R Ashwin, India withered against Kamran and Shoaib Malik's magnificent onslaught as the duo added 95 runs off 46 balls for the sixth wicket. Despite the loss coming in a warm-up match, Indian skipper MS Dhoni will go into the tournament a worried man, considering the meagre and mediocre bowling resources at his disposal.
Meanwhile The Hindu writes that Monday’s practice match, ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 at the R. Premadasa Stadium here, dished out a humdinger, with India making 185 for three and Pakistan chasing it down making 186 for five in 19.1 overs.
“Initially skipper Mohammad Hafeez anchored Pakistan’s pursuit that was often stymied by the fall of wickets in clusters. After openers Hafeez and Imran Nazir put on 30 runs, two wickets fell for the addition of a mere three runs, and the next three succumbed as the score inched from 84 to 91. Yet, during these testing phases, Kamran remained alert to the dictates of a mounting required run-rate,” says The Hindu report, adding that Kamran greeted Harbhajan Singh with a clouted six and then cut a swathe of fours with precision.
“There was a brief lull when R. Ashwin and L. Balaji together gave away just five runs through overs 10 and 11, but after that Kamran was back in his element. Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan, Irfan Pathan and Balaji were scattered with disdain, and once Shoaib Malik joined in, Pakistan had sealed the contest,” added the report.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, earlier in India’s innings, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struck quickfire half-centuries to power India to 185 for three against arch-rivals Pakistan in their second warm-up game ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo on Monday.
Kohli celebrated his ICC ODI Player of the Year award with yet another sterling knock of unbeaten 75, while Sharma returned to form with a 40-ball 56. The highlight of India's innings was the 127-run fourth-wicket partnership between Kohli and Sharma that came off just 77 balls.
Kohli decorated his 47-ball stay at the crease with seven fours and two huge hits over the fence, while Sharma struck six boundaries and two maximum during his knock.
Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was the most successful Pakistani bowler with figures of two 22 from his four overs.
