DURBAN, Aug 21: Sri Lankans Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene scored contrasting half-centuries to pave the way for a 17-run victory for Asia XI against Africa XI in the second of three Afro-Asia Cup matches at Kingsmead on Saturday (partly reported in Sunday’s edition).

Asia XI reached 267 for seven in 50 overs before dismissing Africa XI for 250 with four balls remaining to level the series at 1-1.

Africa XI struggled in the face of brutal fast bowling by Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar and incisive swing bowling from Indian left-armers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra each of whom claimed an early top-order wicket.

South Africa all-rounder Justin Kemp weighed in with a typically aggressive 38 and had just struck the wrist-spin of Shahid Afridi for a huge six when he was run out by a brilliant piece of fielding by Sangakkara.

Kenyan batsman Steve Tikolo was five metres out of his ground and stranded after a mix-up with Kemp when Sangakkara feigned to remove his bails before throwing the ball to bowler Muttiah Muralitheran for Kemp to be run out.

The departure of the big-hitting Kemp, who had also been well out of his crease, effectively ended Africa’s victory hopes.

Tikolo finished as Africa XI’s top scorer with a run-a-ball 43 while former South African captain Shaun Pollock provided late entertainment with a quickfire 29 in 30 balls.

Scoreboard

ASIA XI:

V. Sehwag c Boucher b Odoyo 38

Shahid Afridi lbw b Streak 6

K.C. Sangakkara c Boucher b Odoyo 61

D.P.M Jayawardene st Boucher b Odoyo 52

Yousuf Youhana c Pollock b Kemp 42

Inzamamul Haq not out 32

Abdul Razzaq run out 0

Shoaib Akhtar c Boucher b Streak 6

Zaheer Khan not out 13

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-6, NB-5) 17

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 267

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-98, 3-120, 4-199, 5-225, 6-225, 7-235.

DID NOT BAT: M. Muralitharan, A. Nehra.

BOWLING: Pollock 10-3-36-0 (3nb); Streak 9-0-64-2 (2w); Zondeki 9-1-64-0; Odoyo 10-0-45-3 (2nb, 3w); Boje 4-0-24-0; Kemp 8-0-28-1 (1w).

SUBSTITUTE: Mohammad Ashraful (Did not bat).

AFRICA XI:

H.H. Dippenaar c Jayawardene b Shoaib 23

M.V. Boucher c Jayawardene b Zaheer 16

A.B. de Villiers run out 39

J.A. Rudolph c Sangakkara b Nehra 10

A.G. Prince run out 10

J.M. Kemp run out 38

S.O. Tikolo c Sehwag b Muralitharan 43

S.M. Pollock b Zaheer 29

N Boje c Jayawardene b Shoaib 1

H.H. Streak c Jayawardene b Zaheer 27

T.M. Odoyo not out 3

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-9, W-5, NB-6) 21

TOTAL (all out, 49.2 overs) 250

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-50, 3-71, 4-72, 5-118, 6-154, 7-192, 8-193, 9-235.

BOWLING: Shoaib Akhtar 10-0-50-2 (3nb); Zaheer Khan 9.2-1-43-3 (1w); Nehra 8-0-33-1; Abdul Razzaq 5-0-27-0 (2nb); Muralitharan 10-0-45-1 (3w); Shahid Afridi 7-1-42-0 (1w).

SUBSTITUTED: M. Zondeki by S.O. Tikolo.

RESULT: Asia XI won by 17 runs.

UMPIRES: S.A. Davis (Australia) and B. Doctrove (West Indies).

TV UMPIRE: B.G. Jerling (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Kumar Sangakkara.—Agencies