July 25, 2006	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 28, 1427

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CAIRNS, July 24: Pakistan ‘A’ overcame a dramatic middle-order collapse to post a two-wicket win over Australia ‘A’ in a Twenty20 match at Cazalys Stadium on Sunday.

A defiant partnership at the death from Abdur Rehman and Mohammad Irshad secured narrow victory for visitors who chased down Australia ‘A’s total of 122 in final over.

The pair needed 16 runs from final 13 balls to steal the win and proved up to task with three boundaries coming from final two overs bowled by all-rounder Shane Watson and James Hopes.

Rehman remained unbeaten on 12 and Irshad was six not out.

Mohammad Hafeez top-scored for Pakistan ‘A’ with an entertaining 39 from 29 balls after Mark Cosgrove had earlier smashed 44 (32 balls) for Australia ‘A’.

Cosgrove was one of only three Australia ‘A’ players to reach double-figures. Shaun Marsh blasted two sixes in his 23. Shaun Tait claimed 3-23 for hosts while Brett Dorey (2-18), Watson (1-29) and Dan Cullen (1-17) also picked up wickets.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA ‘A’:

P.A. Jacques run out 6

M.J. Cosgrove c Irshad b Hafeez 44

S.R. Watson b Wasim 0

B.J. Haddin c Wasim b Irshad 7

T.R. Birt run out 4

J.R. Hopes st Salman b Mansoor 10

S.E. Marsh c Irshad b Fawwad 23

B.R. Dorey c Shahid b Mansoor 1

S.W. Tait not out 11

D.J. Cullen c Bazid b A. Rehman 1

B.W. Hilfenhaus run out 3

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, W-3, NB-4) 12

TOTAL (all out, 20 overs) 122

FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-10, 3-51, 4-59, 5-73, 6-85, 7-93, 8-106, 9-110.

BOWLING: Wasim Khan 3-0-32-1 (2nb, 1w); Mohammad Irshad 3-0-19-1; Abdur Rehman 4-1-15-1 (2w); Mohammad Hafeez 4-0-16-0; Mansoor Amjad 4-0-28-2; Fawwad Alam 2-0-7-1.

PAKISTAN ‘A’:

Mohammad Hafeez c Dorey b Watson 39

Shahid Yousuf lbw b Tait 9

Mohammad Salman b Dorey 1

Misbah-ul-Haq c Watson b Dorey 0

Bazid Khan run out 20

Hasan Raza c Hopes b Cullen 14

Fawwad Alam c Haddin b Tait 1

Mansoor Amjad lbw b Tait 4

Abdur Rehman not out 12

Mohammad Irshad not out 6

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-5, W-6, NB-4) 17

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 19.3 overs) 123

FALL OF WKTS: 1-27, 2-30, 3-30, 4-69, 5-89, 6-92, 7-102, 8-107.

BOWLING: Tait 4-0-23-3 (1nb); Dorey 4-0-18-2 (3w); Hilfenhaus 2-0-19-0 (1w); Watson 4-0-29-1 (2nb, 1w); Cullen 4-0-17-1; Hopes 1.3-0-10-0.

UMPIRES: R.L. Parry and J.D. Ward.

MATCH REFEREE: D.J. Harper.—Agencies