25 February 2004	Wednesday	04 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, Feb 24: Rajendra Verma scored 200 as India romped to a 161-run win over Pakistan in the third ODI of the blind cricket series at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

The Indian win, after Pakistan had replied with 248 in 29 overs, keeps the five-match series alive. Pakistan won the first two matches. After being asked to bat first, India piled up 409 for two in their 40 overs.

On several occasions, these two gentlemen miscounted the number of legitimate balls delivered in an over. On at least five occasions, seven-ball overs were bowled.

Verma, whose 112-ball unbeaten innings contained four fours, laid the foundation of India's massive total during a second-wicket partnership of 200 with his skipper Manvender Singh, who made 79 off 69 balls with five hits to the fence.

Scoreboard

INDIA BLIND XI:

Manvender Singh run out 79

Shekhar Naik c Muzaffar b Aamir 21

Rajendra Verma not out 200

Vishal Kumar retired hurt 33

Ashish Nagi not out 20

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-42, NB-9) 56

TOTAL (for two wkts, 40 overs) 409

FALL OF WKTS: 1-37, 2-237.

BOWLING: A. Razzaq 9-0-74-0 (1nb, 8w); A. Ashfaq 8-0-58-1 (2nb, 4w); M. Waqas 7-0-68-0 (1nb, 3w); M. Shahbaz 3-0-46-0 (1nb, 10w); Salman Elahi 6-0-67-0 (4nb, 4w); Sultan Shah 8-0-91-0 (13w).

PAKISTAN BLIND XI:

M. Fayyaz c Manvender b Rajesh 63

Mohammad Shahbaz run out 28

Muzaffar Ali run out 6

Ashraf Bhatti run out 49

Salman Elahi b Malikharjun 4

Masood Jan run out 19

Aamir Ashfaq run out 10

Mohammad Waqas run out 4

Sultan Shah run out 16

Abdul Razzaq run out 5

Shariq Yasin not out 6

EXTRAS (W-38) 38

TOTAL (all out, 29 overs) 248

FALL OF WKTS: 1-47, 2-73, 3-131, 4-141, 5-172, 6-200, 7-210, 8-210, 9-227.

BOWLING: Rajesh Singh 8-0-61-1 (6w); Manjunatha 3-0-32-0 (4w); Malikharjun 8-0-74-1 (17w); Rajendra Verma 2-0-29-0 (3w); Shekhar Naik 7-0-45-0 (8w); Nirmal Kumar 1-0-7-0.