October 6, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 28, 1423

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CARDIFF (Wales), Oct 5: Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh led the Rest of the World XI to a seven-wicket victory over Britain XI in a ‘power cricket’ match under the Millennium Stadium roof here Friday night.

Walsh, 39, who finished with a world record 519 Test wickets before retiring from international cricket last year, took five for 50 from his allotted five overs as England were bowled out for 155 in their second innings on a match played on a specially laid artificial pitch.

In the first match of its kind played in Britain, the Rest of the World XI were also indebted to New Zealand’s Nathan Astle who made 76 not out in their second innings as they successfully chased 111 for victory.

Power cricket differs from conventional forms of the game in that a match consists of two 15-over innings per side.

Batsmen also scored bonus runs when they hit the ball into different tiers of the Millennium Stadium’s stands.

A hit straight into the lower tier was a six but balls landing directly in the middle section were classed as an eight with those going into the top deck of the 74,000-seater stadium were worth 10 runs.

Astle hit the evening’s only 10 although had any batsmen landed the ball straight on the stadium’s retractable roof they would have scored 12.

No one managed that feat although Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi did come close in front of a sparse crowd at a ground more used to staging rugby union internationals.

Britain were led by England skipper Nasser Hussain with the Rest led by New Zealand Test captain Stephen Fleming.

The second match of the two-game series was scheduled to take place at the same venue Saturday.

If the Rest win that match as well they will collect all the 50,000 pounds (US$78,500) ‘winner takes all’ prize money on offer.