Sports Bulletin

Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD:-Northern beat Sindh by 2 runs in Pakistan Cup 2022 match at the House of Northern Islamabad on Sunday. Northern's Skipper Haider Ali decided to ball first after winning the toss against Sindh elevens. Sindhi batters set 252 runs total on scoreboard all out in just 44.4overs in 50 overs per inning fixture. Opener Sherjeel Khan scored 118 runs and faced 84 delivers and hit 11 fours and huge 7 sixes while Danish Aziz added 30 runs in team total for 60 deliveries wasted and smashed 3 fours. Mohammad Hassan scored 28 runs for 39 balls. Northern bowler Asif Ali bowled with best economy rate. He conceded only 10 runs and took 3 wickets. Amir Jamal got 2 for 46 balls while Zaman khan picked up 2 wickets for 47 runs. In reply, Northern scored 128 runs for 4 wickets in 23.2 overs. But bad luck for Sindh the rain interrupted the match as Northern won by 2 runs by (DSL) method. Northern Batter Mohammad Huraira scored 41 runs in 39 balls. Umer Amin scored 41 runs 10 (44 balls) while Asif Ali scored 20 runs only. Sindhi bowler Shahnawaz Dahani took 3 wickets and Baber Ahmed got single wicket. Summarized scorecard Sindh Batting: 252 all out in 44.4 overs Sharjeel Khan 118 runs (84 balls in 84, 11 fours, 7 sixes), Danish Aziz 30 runs (60 balls, fours), Mohammed Hassen 28 runs (39 balls, 2 fours) Northern Bowling: Asif Ali (3 wickets for 10 runs), Amir Jamal (2 wickets for 46 runs), Zaman Khan (2 wickets for 47 runs) Northern Batting: 128 for 4 in 23.2 overs Mohammad Huraira 41 runs (39 balls, 8 fours), Umer Amin 41 runs (44bals, 3 fours, 1 six), Asif Ali 20 runs (17 balls), 1 four, 1 six Sindh Bowling: Shah Nawaz Dahani (3 for 29 runs), Baber Ahmed (1 for 37 runs) Result:-Northern won by 2 runs on DSL Venue:-House of Northern Islamabad Toss:-Northern

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD:-India recorded an impressive 107-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan despite an off-colour performance from their batters, thanks to a record seventh-wicket partnership between all-rounders Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana at the Bay Oval in Tauranga on Sunday. India were struggling at 114 for six at one stage and seemed to be under pressure when Vastrakar and Rana blasted their highest ODI scores to lift India to a competitive 244 for seven much to the delight of their fans who shouted in support and encouragement. In reply, Pakistan never got going as they slipped to 98 for seven, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh taking a record five dismissals on World Cup debut as India earned their first win in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022. India won the toss and chose to bat with the Bay Oval bathed in glorious sunshine, but there was a storm brewing in the middle as Shafali Verma was dismissed for a duck. Diana Baig cleaned up her leg stump as Verma’s issues in the one-day format continued on to the World Cup stage. Fellow opener Smriti Mandhana would provide the release, scoring the first boundary with the 25th ball of the innings. Mandhana was timing the ball beautifully but boundaries still proved hard to come by, a pre-meditated strike down the ground in the final over of the power play landed so forcefully it plugged short of the boundary. She didn’t let that stop her as two balls later the ball sailed over the boundary to bring up India’s first six and end the powerplay with India 33 for one. Pakistan’s fielding had been accurate with singles cut off and boundary hopes reeled in, but at the 20 over mark the field settings grew more and more defensive. Mandhana’s fifty would soon come bringing it up off 71 balls to register her 25th score over fifty, but a first against Pakistan. There would be little time to celebrate as Deepti Sharma was bowled by Nashra Sundhu with the very next ball. A collapse was beginning as Mandhana fell for 52 as Anam Amin produced a stunning caught and bowled to leave two new batters at the crease. Those batters were still to be feared even if they were on nought, Harmanpreet Kaur now joined by Mithali Raj as she embarked on a record sixth World Cup campaign. Kaur would not threaten though as she was given out lbw for five from 14 as Nida Dar became the fourth bowler to take a wicket and India slipped to 108 for four. The young star Richa Ghosh could not succeed where her elders had failed as she went for a five-ball duck with Dar picking up her second as Ghosh chopped onto her wickets. Pakistan were on top as Fatima Sana earned a maiden over before Sundhu got her second as Raj was forced to go, walking off as slowly as she has scored, her nine coming from 36 balls. It felt like India’s tail was set to wag quickly with the Women in Blue on 114 for six but Pooja Vastrakaer joined Sneh Rana with other ideas. With 34.4 overs gone, Vastrakar showed her intent by scoring the first boundary since the second delivery of the 17th over. The duo brought up their fifty partnership off 43 balls and they hadn’t even got properly going as overs 40 to 42 went for 10 or more runs. The fact that Sundhu then bowled an over that only conceded six felt like a success to show how far Pakistan had let the game slip. Both batters brought up their highest ODI scores before Vastrakar had to go for 67 from 59 balls ending a World Cup record seventh-wicket partnership of 122. Jhulan Goswami would end the innings with a four to bring India to 244 for seven, which seemed unlikely 16 overs before. Goswami would then open the bowling in her fifth World Cup as Pakistan made a slow start, making just 26 from the first 10 overs. The fact they had not lost a wicket was a silver lining that soon disappeared as Javeria Khan was caught by Goswami off the bowling of Gayakwad. Out came captain Bismah Maroof, but she could make only 15 from 24 balls as she was caught behind with Pakistan slipping to 53 for two. After her heroics with the bat, Rana then dismissed Omaima Sohail with her second ball before Goswami got her first to dismiss anchor Sidra Amin for 30 from 64 balls. Doing so brought out Aliya Riaz who ended both warm-up games not out with scores over 40, but not this time. Riaz would make 11 from 23 balls before being stumped by Ghosh, her fourth involvement of the innings to make amends for her batting performance. Sana was next to fall as Pakistan lost their seventh wicket for just 98 runs, no matching Rana and Vastrakar. Another small partnership was made for Pakistan as Baig joined Sidra Nawaz in the middle before Gayakwad got her fourth of the afternoon, an Indian spinner again doing the business. While Gayakwad had to wait another over to attempt her five-fer, Ghosh picked up hers as she caught Sundhu for a duck becoming the first wicket-keeper to take five dismissals on World Cup debut. With Gayakwad getting the chance to bowl her final over, each delivery was met by chants and cheers that had boomed round the ground all afternoon. Baig played with no fear taking six runs off her to deny her a five-fer but she still earned figures of four for 31. A seventh-wicket partnership had not materialised but it looked as though a tenth-wicket one was forming as Baig and Anam Amin frustrated India’s push for victory. Kaur would take the final catch as Baig had to go for an entertaining 24 from 35 balls as India got their World Cup campaign up and running with Pakistan all out for 137. Scores in brief India beat Pakistan at Bay Oval, Tauranga by 107 runs India 244/7 in 50.0 overs (Pooja Vastrakar 67, Sneh Rana 53 not out; Nashra Sandhu 2/36, Nida Dar 2/45) Pakistan 137 in 43.0 overs (Sidra Ameen 30, Diana Baig 24; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 4/31, Jhulan Goswami 2/26) Player of the Match: Pooja Vastrakar    

Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWALPINDI:-Australia closed the Day-3 game at 271 for 2 in 73 overs, as the day called off before the time owing to poor light at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Sunday. Usman Kawaja played a notable innings of 97 runs in 159 balls, as he hit 15 fours. He lost his wicket while trying to play a reverse sweep on the bowling of Numan. Imam took his catch, as Aleem Dar had to reverse his decision after seeing reply. Earlier, Sajid broke the first wicket partnership at 156 in 44.4 overs, when he clean bold David Warner at 68 runs, as he hit 12 boundaries after facing 114 ball with the strike-rate of 59.4. Both openers aggregated 156 runs for the first wickets. Only spinners Sajid and Numan could got each one wicket for Pakistan. Australia will resume their inning tomorrow (Monday) morning at 271 for 2, as they are still in 105 runs deficit. Day-1 First Session: (105 for 1 in 35 overs, Iman-ul-Haq 57 not out & Azhar Ali 0 not out) Second Session: (171 for 1 in 56 overs, Imam-ul-Hq 92 not out & Azhar Ali 30 not out) Third Session (245 for 1 in 90 overs, Imam-ul-Haq 132 not out, Azhar Ali 64 not out, Lyon 1 for 87) Day-2 First Session: 302 for 1 in 115 overs (Imam-ul-Haq154 not out, Azhar Ali 96 not out, Nathin Lyon 1 for 106) Second Session: 394 for 2 in 142 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 157, Azhar Ali 151 not out, Babar Azam 33 not out Third Session: Pakistan 476 for 4 declare (Azhar Ali 185, Rizwan 46 and Babar Azam 36) Day-3 First Session: Australia 138 for 0 (Usman Kawaja 70 runs not out & David Warner 60 runs not out) Second Session: Australia 222 for 2 (Usman Kawaja 97, Marnus 33 not out, Smith 12 not out) Third Session: Australia 271 for 2 in 73 overs (Marnus 69 not out, Smith 24 not out) Scorecard: Pakistan Batting (476 for 4 in 162 overs): Abdullah Shafique (c Cummins b Lyon) 44-105 Imam-ul-Haq (lbw b Cummins) 157-358 Azhar Ali (c Green b Labuschagne) 185-361 Babar Azam (run out-Labuschagne) 36-82 Mohammad Rizwan 29 not out- 46 Iftikhar Ahmed                 13 not out-21 Extras   (b 4, lb 7, No, Balls1)-12 TOTAL: 476/4 in 162 overs            Did not bat: Fawad Alam, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah Fall of wickets: 1-105 (Abdullah Shafique, 33.6 overs), 2-313 (Imam-ul-Haq, 120.5 overs), 3-414 (Babar Azam, 147.1 overs), 4-442 (Azhar Ali, 155.4 overs) Australia Bowling: Nathan Lyon (1 for 161), Pat Cummins (1 for 62), Marnus Labuschagne (1 for 53) Australia Batting: 5 for 0 in 1 over Usman Khawaja (5 not out), David Warner (0 not out) Pakistan Playing XI: Babar Azam (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Sajid Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah Australia Playing XI: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Kawaja, David Warner, Marnus Laboschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameroon Green, Alex Cary (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathin Lyon, Josh Hazlewood Match officials: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee) Officials Scorers: Shakil Ahmed, Fazal-e-Azeem (field) Adnan Farooq(press gallery).

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE:- Pakistan beat South Africa by 10 wickets in the opening match of the 1st match of T-20 series at Lahore Gymkhana Cricket Ground, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore on Saturday. Pakistan Blind Cricket Team won the toss and decided to bowl first. South Africa scored 183 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Fredrik with 54 runs was the top scorer from South Africa. Moain, Badar and Sana Ullah took a wicket apiece. In reply, Pakistan chased down the target of 184 runs in 11.4 overs without any loss. Maoin Aslam was the star with the bat; he made 99* runs off 43 balls while Muhammad Rashid scored 71* runs off 27 balls. Result: Pakistan won by 10 Wickets Man of the Match: Moain Aslam

BIPIN DANI Shane Warne's funeral will take place in Melbourne, Australia, according to his manager James Ereskine.  The 52-year-old legendary spinner passed (suspected due to the heart-attack) away in Thailand.  Speaking from Sydney, the  manager informs : "Warne along with his four friends went to Thailand (from Melbourne) on Wednesday. He was not on any cricketing assignments but on a holiday. One among the four is there is our office staff".  "The dead-body will be brought to Australia for his final rites. It may take a few more days as the High Commissioner's office is also involved in the process".    With Warne's exit, Muthiah Muralitharan has lost his cricket-partner.  "It (the age of 52) is not the age for any cricketer to leave", Muthiah Muralitharan, speaking exclusively to this reporter, said over the telephone.  "It is very shocking news and very hard to digest. We can't believe it. He was a legendary cricketer. We both played in the same era. The world of cricket fraternity will miss him. It is a big loss to the game. All his fans will miss him", Murali added.  Warne was the second highest Test wicket taker (708) after Murali's 800.  The series between Sri Lanka and Australia is played for the Warne-Muralitharan trophy.  "It is a very black day in international cricket when two great players-Rod Marsh and Warne passed away on the same day.  It will not be surprising if the players of both teams or at least the Sri Lanka's  wear a black armband on the second day of the ongoing Mohali Test on Saturday.   

Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWALPINDI:-Pakistan have declared their first innings at 476 for 4 with the lion share of Azhar Ali with 185 runs innings at tea at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Saturday. Australia were 5 without losing any wicket when umpires decided to call off the day-2 game owing to bad light, as 14 overs game wasted of the day. Day-1 First Session: (105 for 1 in 35 overs, Iman-ul-Haq 57 not out & Azhar Ali 0 not out) Second Session: (171 for 1 in 56 overs, Imam-ul-Hq 92 not out & Azhar Ali 30 not out) Third Session (245 for 1 in 90 overs, Imam-ul-Haq 132 not out, Azhar Ali 64 not out, Lyon 1 for 87) Day-2 First Session: 302 for 1 in 115 overs (Imam-ul-Haq154 not out, Azhar Ali 96 not out, Nathin Lyon 1 for 106) Second Session: 394 for 2 in 142 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 157, Azhar Ali 151 not out, Babar Azam 33 not out Third Session: Pakistan 476 for 4 declare (Azhar Ali 185, Rizwan 46 and Babar Azam 36) Pakistan Batting (476 for 4 in 162 overs): Abdullah Shafique (c Cummins b Lyon) 44-105 Imam-ul-Haq (lbw b Cummins) 157-358 Azhar Ali (c Green b Labuschagne) 185-361 Babar Azam (run out-Labuschagne) 36-82 Mohammad Rizwan 29 not out- 46 Iftikhar Ahmed                 13 not out-21 Extras   (b 4, lb 7, No, Balls1)-12 TOTAL: 476/4 in 162 overs            Did not bat: Fawad Alam, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah Fall of wickets: 1-105 (Abdullah Shafique, 33.6 overs), 2-313 (Imam-ul-Haq, 120.5 overs), 3-414 (Babar Azam, 147.1 overs), 4-442 (Azhar Ali, 155.4 overs) Australia Bowling: Nathan Lyon (1 for 161), Pat Cummins (1 for 62), Marnus Labuschagne (1 for 53) Australia Batting: 5 for 0 in 1 over Usman Khawaja (5 not out), David Warner (0 not out) Pakistan Playing XI: Babar Azam (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Sajid Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah Australia Playing XI: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Kawaja, David Warner, Marnus Laboschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameroon Green, Alex Cary (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathin Lyon, Josh Hazlewood Match officials: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee) Officials Scorers: Shakil Ahmed, Fazal-e-Azeem (field) Adnan Farooq(press gallery).  

Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWALPINDI:-Left-handed open batter, Imam-ul-Haq played a composed innings of 132 runs that helped Green Shirts to end the day-1 game with full command against Australia at 245 for 1 in 90 overs at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Friday. Skipper Babar Azam decided to bat first after winning the toss, as Pakistani batter show excellent batting skills against an experienced bowling attack. Imam hit 15 fours during in 271 balls innings was the most valuable contribution in the Pakistan’s total. Australian captain Pat Cummins used his eight bowler to break the partnership of the second wicket in which Imam and Azhar aggregated 140 runs. Pakistan will resume their first inning on Saturday morning at the same venue. Imam 132 and Azhar 64 were not out at the close of play day-1.   Summarized Score Card (day-1): Pakistan Batting: 145 for 1 in 90 overs Iman-ul-Haq 132 not out (271 balls, 4X15, 6X2), Azhar Ali 64 not out (165 balls, 4X4, 6X1)), Abdullah Shafiq 44 runs (105 balls, 4X3, 6X1) Australia Bowling: Natin Lyon (31-4-87-1) Pakistan Playing XI: Babar Azam (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Sajid Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah Australia Playing XI: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Kawaja, David Warner, Marnus Laboschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameroon Green, Alex Cary (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathin Lyon, Josh Hazlewood Match officials: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee) Day-1 First Session: (105 for 1 in 35 overs, Iman-ul-Haq 57 not out & Azhar Ali 0 not out) Second Session: (171 for 1 in 56 overs, Imam-ul-Hq 92 not out & Azhar Ali 30 not out) Third Session (245 for 1 in 90 overs, Imam-ul-Haq 132 not out, Azhar Ali 64 not out, Lyon 1 for 87).

Bipin Dani Former Windies opener Gordon Greenidge has advised Virat Kohli to take away his mind from his landmark Test (100th) and instead, focus more on every delivery that he would face against Sri Lankan bowlers in the first Mohali Test beginning on Friday.  Sir Gordon Greenidge is one among the nine players (Colin Cowdrey, Javed Miandad, Alec Stewart, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Joe Root and Ricky Ponting, Ponting has done so in both the innings) who have registered a hundred in their 100th Test match.  Wishing Kohli (through this Reporter over the telephone from Barbados) to score a hundred in his 100th Test match, he said, "I would like to offer my best wishes to Virat on this special moment and most excellent opportunity for this great game. Getting to that special moment should be no more than the other centuries in the past". "My advice to you is just bat and it will come. Just focus on staying in the middle and that special moment will come. I am confident you can do this. Should your dream challenge your mind just take a moment after every ball and refocus on the next delivery. Best of luck to you". Sri Lanka's former captain Arjuna Ranatunga has also wished Kohli for this historic Test and at the same time has recommended Sri Lankan bowlers to be more committed rather than spoiling Kohli's party. "Kohli is a phenomenal player. He has lot to offer. My advice to the bowlers is to concentrate more on line and length, the wickets would come", he said.

Sports Bulletin Report KARACHI:-Pakistan Blinds Cricket team defeated South Africa by 6 wickets in the 3rd and the last One-Day International played at Southend Cricket Stadium Karachi.  South African Blind Cricket Team yet again won the toss (three times in a row) and this time decided to bat first. South Africa made 252 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 40 overs. Bhule Bhidla with 63 runs was the top scorer from South Africa while Isac Bidla chipped in with 56 runs. Matiullah took 2 wickets while Ahtesham and Israr Hassan took a wicket apiece. In reply, Pakistan chased down the target of 253 runs in 29 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Matiullah was the star with the bat, he made 64 runs off 41 balls. Faisal Mehmood and Ahtesham ul Haq scored 53 and 51 runs respectively. Sphelele Khalala took 1 wicket. Brig (Retd) Mehmood ul Hassan, General Manager Corporate Services Pakistan Petroleum Ltd, Syed Sultan Shah the President World Blind Cricket Ltd, Hassan Khursheed General Manager PC Hotel Karachi, Imran Ahmed Shaikh Director PBCC and DSR Tariq Mehmood Deputy Supertndient Sindh Rangers were the guests of the occasion and distributed prizes amongst the players. Awards: Man of the Match: Matiullah Man of the series in B1 Category:  Riasat Khan Man of the series in B2 Category:  Ahtesham ul Haq Man of the series in B3 Category:  Faisal Mehmood  

Abdul Jabbar Faisal RAWALPINDI:-The stage is ready to start Pindi Test match between Pakistan and Australia on Friday morning, as all the tickets have been sold out of Test match that shows how the people of twin city Rawalpindi and Islamabad are keen to see two top teams of cricket world in action. Right-handed batter Babar Azam will lead the Green Shirts in the historical Test match while Pat Cummins will lead the Kangaroos at the soil of Pakistan after 24 years in the first Test of the three-match Benaud-Qadir ICC World Test Championship series. Both sides have kept a close eye on the Rawalpindi pitch which has a tradition of being a sporting one, the last Test played at the venue was Pakistan’s 95-run triumph against South Africa almost a year ago. Since the return of Test cricket in Pakistan in December 2019, this will be the fourth Test at the venue. The 2020 Pakistan-Sri Lanka match ended in a draw. Babar Azam says: “It is a huge honour to play this series since the trophy has been named after legends of the game Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir. As a team we are very excited that Australia are touring after 24 years, we want to make this a memorable series and the entire squad remains focused and determined to deliver the goods. “Our fans have been a great strength of ours in the recent past, they have come to cheer us, shown their love and support through social media and have backed us by watching us on their TV screens. My request would be for them to turn up at the venue and give us full backing and support. Pat Cummins says:  “Richie toured here for the first time some 60 years ago, we are proud to be here in Pakistan and can’t wait for the series to start. “This is a very special occasion as we have a long history of playing against Pakistan back home and never over here, a whole generation of Australian cricketers haven’t had the chance of being over here and play so as a group we feel very privileged and lucky to be here, we have been incredibly looked after and it is beautiful here, we can’t wait for the series to start.” Weather Forecast: A spokesman for Pakistan Metrology Department (PMD) told this scribe that first two day of the Test match would not be disturbed by the rain; however, weather will be cloudy. Next two days (March 6 and 7), there are chances of rain in different spells in the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad that could interrupt the cricket game. On March 6 there will be 60% chances while on March 7 there will be 65% rain probability. March 8 will be sunny day and no rain in Rawalpindi. Pakistan Test Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain-wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood. Australia Test Squad: Pat Cummins (captain), David Warner, Marcus Harris, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson. Match officials: Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)