Afro-Asia Cup, 2005
Afro-Asia Cup, 2005
Tony Cozier
15-Apr-2006
At Centurion, August 17, 2005 (day/night). African XI won by two runs. Toss: Asian Cricket
Council XI. One-day international debut: D. W. Steyn.
Winter conditions in these parts were a mystery to both captains, so Inzamam's decision to
bowl first seemed inspired when the Africans tumbled to 57 for five in the face of bristling pace
from Shoaib Akhtar and Zaheer Khan's clever swing. Prince and Boucher patched things up with
a workmanlike stand of 84, and the impression that this was a bowler's time of year was confirmed
when Pollock took three wickets in the 11th over to undermine the Asian run-chase. Abdul Razzaq
and Kumble added 56 for the seventh wicket to even up the game but, with just three runs required
and the last man Nehra on strike, Dale Steyn produced the perfect yorker to flatten middle stump.
With Zimbabwe otherwise engaged in a Test match, just two non-South Africans started the match
for the African XI, and only one finished it: Thomas Odoyo, the Kenyan all-rounder, was supersubbed
out of the game before he had a chance to do anything.
Man of the Match: A. G. Prince.