Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe warm up with wins
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe warmed up for their Champions Trophy campaigns with wins over local opposition
Cricinfo staff
05-Oct-2006
Sri Lankans 267 for 8 (Maharoof 81, Vaas 48) beat PCA President's XI 183 for 7 (Dharmani 56) by 84 runs
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After a wobbly start, Sri Lanka's cricketers eventually eased to a comfortable 84-run win over a PCA President's XI at Chandigarh, thanks in no small part to fine allround contributions from Farveez Maharoof and Chaminda Vaas, who first rescued their side with the bat, then kept things tight with the ball.
After winning the toss and batting first, the Sri Lankans were soon in trouble and had made just 112 for 5 by the halfway mark of their innings. Gagandeep Singh, the PCA XI's opening bowler, removed Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene cheaply, before the offspinner, Rajesh Sharma, chipped in with a brace of his own.
But Maharoof came out all guns blazing, slapping six fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 81 from 88 balls, and Vaas was even more explosive with 48 from 46 balls. Together they ensured a healthy total of 267 for 8, and that proved to be more than sufficient by the time the PCA XI had slumped to 88 for 5 in reply. Only the captain, Pankaj Dharmani, provided any significant resistance with 56 from 74 balls.
Zimbabweans 236 for 7 (Masakadza 52) beat Gujarat President's XI 206 (Matsikenyeri 4-45) by 30 runs
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Zimbabwe opened their Champions Trophy campaign with a valuable 30-run victory over a Gujarat President's XI at Ahmedabad, as Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri starred with bat and ball respectively.
Masakadza led the way with 52 from 75 balls, adding 88 for the third wicket with Terry Duffin who made 47. The Gujaratis kept things tight through the middle overs, with Viswajit Solanki and Mohnish Parmar sharing two wickets, but Piet Rinke clobbered an unbeaten 41 from No. 7 to boost the total.
When the Zimbabweans' turn came to bowl, it was their captain, Matsikenyeri, who led the way, grabbing 4 for 45 with his offbreaks as the middle-order capitulated. Gujarat's mainstay was their opener, Azharuddin Bilakhia, who made 53.